Clearly a courageous shop owner, trusting that people will move past the sign and into the store.  Good for her or him.

It gets me thinking … What do I really need?

Certainly enough food, clothing and shelter to keep the body going.  But not caviar, Gucci and a mansion.

I need a deep connection with other human beings, especially when we’re 1-1.  Not sex.  Sure, it would be nice, but not essential.

I need periods of quiet, ideally including a daily period of meditation.  I don’t need supreme soundproofing between my neighbours and me … the rumble of nearby noise is part of life.

I need to watch or read stories about folks and the people they love, and the people they don’t love.  Real moments … tender or distant.  I don’t need to binge watch the seven seasons of Outlander on Netflix.

I need beauty in my life … of colour, shape,  movement, song and poem.  I don’t need to be inundated with TV images that flash by in a second.

I need home.  Kicking off my shoes and sprawling on the couch.  I tell myself that I need Gent as home but maybe almost anywhere on the planet would do nicely.

I need to sing, play cello and write as ways to reach people.  I don’t need to be good at these things.  I just need to be passionate in the doing.

***

And I don’t need a longer list of needs