I have always found meaning in song lyrics, with some speaking to me and whatever is going on in my life at the time being particularly relevant. The song “A Beggar on a Beach of Gold” by Mike + The Mechanics is an example, although it took many years for the meaning to “click”.
For 50+ years I lived my life looking externally for validation and to tell me what I needed to strive for and achieve. Looking to others for guidance on what I needed to have or do or be next, based on what they thought or had or did. And never looking internally, struggling to find the peace and self-love that I was so desperately searching for.
I paid attention (both consciously and unconsciously) to advertisements for products and things that were pronounced to be needed, and filled our home with stuff that was someone else’s idea of what is important. I yearned to buy something because of its brand name and the importance others were giving it. And I still didn’t feel satisfied when I managed to attain it, moving quickly on to the next thing that was sold as a sign of success. I listened to the “wisdom” of the beauty industry and bought and used the cosmetics and “beauty” products to make myself look “better” and presentable, but now I’m not sure by whose standards – certainly not my Soul’s.
And although I had heard this song many times over and over, its meaning for me hadn’t really sunk in until about 5 years ago when I guess my Soul got tired of all the constant yearning of my ego and gave me a good solid kick in the pants, telling me to look around at my life, at the things that were important to me at a Soul level, and see the wealth of love and experiences I had accumulated but was not acknowledging. To see the amazing other Souls who filled my days and gave me so much. It took time, lots of time, but slowly I have learned to turn myself away from this consumer crazed world and take a good hard look at what was important to me, Loretta The Soul, and all that I already have been and continue to be blessed with.
My beach of gold is filled with so much love, with joy & happiness, with ever improving health, with my awesome husband, my family (human and furry; step and biological; here in Canada and abroad), my friends all around the world, my beautiful home and property, my financial wellbeing and the ability to buy food and clothes as I need them, the opportunities to travel in British Columbia, Canada and around the globe… the list just goes on and on. I am filled with so much gratitude for all my blessings.
What is on your beach of gold that you are not noticing? Please, don’t be drowning in the shallows……. come and join me on the beach. There is so much to be grateful for and so much to share.
A beggar on a beach of gold
By Mike + the Mechanics
I didn’t know when I was lucky
Discontented feeling bad
Filled with envy
For possessions other people had
I found my pride had always hurt me
Fought the world to gain control
Not realizing
I was sitting on a beach of gold
Oh lord I’m a poor man
With all the riches I can hold
I’m a beggar
And I’m sitting on a beach of gold
The problems I encountered
Gave me strength helped me sustain
To know the pleasure
First I had to cure the pain
When I was searching for solutions
I found the answer lay in me
I’m a drifter
But I’m drifting on a silver sea
Oh lord I’m a poor man
With all the riches I can hold
I’m a beggar
And I’m sitting on a beach of gold
I didn’t have courage
My life was as dark as night
When alone in the darkness
I saw the brightest light
Let the light shine down
Are you out there now on empty
Feel you’ve nothing left to give
Sick of trying
Have you lost the will to live?
Don’t be drowning in the shallows
With the beach so near at hand
Hear the voice say
Stand up get up
And join me on the gilded sand
Come and join me on the beach
With all the riches I can hold
Cause I’m a beggar
And I’m sitting on a beach of gold
Oh lord I’m a poor man
With all the riches I can hold
I’m a beggar
I’m sitting on a beach of gold
My children my salvation
The father to this man
They’re my teachers
Playing on the golden sand
With my family all around me
I’ve all the riches I can hold
I’m a beggar
Sitting on a beach of gold
Oh lord I’m a poor man
With all the riches I can hold
I’m a beggar
Sitting on a beach of gold
With love always,
Loretta