"How much do I need?"

In the days of entitlement, expectation, and expenses, I need to ask myself this question daily:

"How much do I need?"

Nothing of mine is really mine anyway. When I leave this life I can't take anything with me. The stuff I own doesn't define me. After all, the stuff I buy eventually tears, rips, breaks, or fails - it fades.

I must admit that I hate advertisers. They can manipulate and stir in me to think I need something that I really don't need. A look, a place, a gesture makes us face the question "Do I need that?"

So recently I looked at the question differently. It's not how much I need, but rather how much will I consume. I found this incredibly humbling. Now I switch from looking out at stuff and looking deep into me - which is pretty scary. I can be pretty selfish and self-centered. If I really take into account what others don't have and what I have it reveals a lot about my priorities.

"How much will I consume?"