Poem #64: Don't Steal From Yourself

It was recently my birthday and the influx of new possessions always fills me with battling feelings of euphoria and foreboding. The euphoria because I love not spending money and having wonderful gifts my loved ones showered upon me and the foreboding because I know the influx won't last. I've mentioned before the concept from yoga philosophy of the yamas which are self-regulating practices, the third yama, asteya means non-stealing. It can be taken literally, to not-steal from others, and also figuratively, to not steal from yourself. I steal from myself in many ways - especially when I get that foreboding - I'm just stealing the joy and gratitude that I got from receiving the gift by thinking about the future when those gifts are gone. So, I spent some time today for my poem, reflecting on the lies my lizard brain tells to get me to keep me hoarding.