Image of virus

There is an epidemic out there! No it is not Swine Flu, and you cannot take any drug to eliminate it. The epidemic is discontentment. It does not affect everyone. Some people are immune to it, and no matter how many people they are around or what they hear or see on the radio or TV, they never pick this virus up. They truly are contented people, no matter how rich or poor they are. Contentment for them may mean enjoying each moment of every day. They count their blessings, even when they do not have the material possessions that others may have. They rate good health and peace of mind as possessions.

The discontentment virus

The people who have the virus called discontentment are never satisfied with life and all it has to offer. They continue to search for Nirvana to help them escape the discontentment. This virus spreads quickly amongst those who are vulnerable. It does not discriminate in who it affects, although many younger people between the ages of twenty and forty five seem to be most affected by it.

The symptoms of discontentment

The first symptoms appear to be a desire to want to spend more money than they have. Perhaps it makes the sufferer feel a bit better by buying clothes, cars or even holidays. Unfortunately, the evidence seems to be that even when wearing the new clothes, or returning from a holiday, the virus is still present, sometimes becoming worse.

The second stage

The second stage is when the victim notices that they wake up each morning feeling anxious. By now they may become paranoid and believe that others are watching them or talking about them. They keep looking in the mirror and begin to notice that they just don’t seem to look right no matter what they do. They see areas of their body that look distorted in some way. They ask others what they think, but the reassurance they get does nothing to ease their discomfort.

The third stage

They seek advice from professionals who tell them they can remove the offending parts of their body, and even take a bit out here and put a bit back there. It costs money of course, but the victim is so desperate by this time, they will resort to borrowing more money to pay for surgery.

Tragically, the surgery does not destroy the virus and they are left with the knowledge that this virus has a hold on them. Some even try more surgery until they become unrecognisable to their family, but even that does nothing to hold the virus. It rages through their entire life, destroying their confidence, their relationships and jobs.

Hope for the future

After looking for a cure everywhere, they suddenly find what might offer some hope for the future. It involves listening to someone who can give them some ideas of what they may have to do to find the cure. At first they don’t like listening, as it means a bit of hard work, or having to give up some things they have held on to.

The medicine is not pleasant but it does have to be taken many times a day.

Some of the treatment involves getting involved, looking at things that are in the present. We exist only now, because our past and future are only in our minds. The past is memories of things that have occurred, and the future is our imagination.

Living life in the present can be more beneficial and it can cure the virus. Enjoying each moment is important. If we do not enjoy each and every moment, they no longer exist and they just become part of the past.