There are not many inspiring people around the world who can educate us to be humble, simple, very ordinary, and grateful. I write this article being moved by the former president of Uruguay, Jose Mujica. I had not heard much about him before, to be frank, but a few weeks ago, I read about his life as the world’s poorest president.
Interestingly, by choice, President Mujica lives on his wife’s farm, rather than the presidential digs that his predecessors enjoyed. He drives a 1973 Volkswagen Beetle and donates 90% of his monthly salary, equivalent to $12,000, to charity, an act that has earned him the label of the “poorest president in the world.” I must admit, I know nothing of his policies, and I’m sure that someone will tell me that he is doing something wrong -- somewhere, somehow. But I don’t want to get overtly political here, only to quote some of the wisest words I’ve heard in a long time, words that echo the old saying, “less is more.”
Here’s a thoughtful quote from President Jose Mujica:
“I’m called ‘the poorest president,’ but I don’t feel poor. Poor people are those who only work to try to keep an expensive lifestyle, and always want more and more.
“This is a matter of freedom. If you don’t have many possessions then you don’t need to work all your life like a slave to sustain them, and therefore you have more time for yourself.”
He raises some exciting points, the first being that “poor” is a matter of perception and often subjective. We tend to see people as poor if they have considerably less than us, yet seldom consider whether they need more than they have, not whether they have the potential to be as happy, or happier, than us with what they have already. It is most likely our delusion regarding how much we need, and our constant judging of what we have that is making us unhappy, and making many of us feel poorer than we really are.
Of course, I am not suggesting that there aren’t very poor people who need financial support and social compassion. I am simply saying that the definition of “poor” has become largely subjective, and often based on unnecessary expectations of material wealth. Jose Mujica made a similar point when he addressed the Rio+20 Summit: “We’ve been talking all afternoon about sustainable development, to get the masses out of poverty. But what are we thinking? Do we want the model of development and consumption of the rich countries? I ask you now, what would happen to this planet if Indians would have the same proportion of cars per household than Germans? How much oxygen would we have left? Does this planet have enough resources so seven or eight billion can have the same level of consumption and waste that is seen in rich societies today? It is this level of hyper-consumption that is harming our planet.”
The second point ties in poignantly with mindfulness and many of the subjects have been discussed before, that consumerism makes us poorer -- spiritually poorer, that is.
We believe we are becoming richer (materially), but in fact we are restricting our lives. If we consistently strive for, and acquire, more possessions, we eventually become imprisoned by that ownership. Take, for example, people’s obsession over owning land. A majority of people financially imprison themselves to own a property, because we are led to believe that we need this as a form of life security for ourselves and our children. Renting a place forever simply isn’t an option, ownership is essential.
Yet, this restricts our freedom, and unless you can buy a house out-right, it means being in debt to a bank, not to mention having to pay huge interest on that debt. For many, this alone means staying in a job they dislike just to pay the mortgage. It means being tied to one place indefinitely, unless you sell up and move on, which is a hassle to keep doing every time you feel like a change. It also means many sleepless nights when money is tight and the interest rate fluctuates (for those on a variable rate).
Owning property isn’t evil, that’s not the point here. The point is this: The more you own, the more up-keep, the more worries, and more stress and weight on your mind. The more land you own, the more land you need to secure; the more cars you own, the more maintenance you need to carry out; the more investments you make, the more your tax liability. All these things imprison rather than liberate the mind. They eat into our freedom, our time to enjoy our loved ones and share experiences with the world.
President Jose Mujica accuses the world’s influential elite of having a “blind obsession to achieve growth with consumption, as if the contrary would mean the end of the world.” It won’t. The contrary would mean sustainability, something really worth considering for the future of our children’s children.
Furthermore, Mujica refuses to wear a tie, and it has nothing to do with fashion. Sandals are the staple of most of his outfits. Correspondingly, during an interview (published in Elite Daily) he stated: “The tie is a useless rag that constrains your neck.”
I’m an opponent of consumerism. Because of it, we’ve forgotten about the fundamentals, and are wasting human strength on frivolities that have little to do with actual happiness. Jose Mujica will not allow trivialities to dominate his life, focusing, instead, on the most pressing issues for humanity. At a time when consumption fuels our very existence, Mujica urges the global community to protect and preserve this planet for future generations. Mujica is a champion of the poor, and stands up for oppressed and marginalised peoples.
As a young man, Mujica was a revolutionary who eventually faced imprisonment and even torture. Thus, it’s not surprising that he embraces benevolent changes with open arms, regardless of whether or not the rest of the world is ready. As a matter of fact, there are not many global leaders quite like him. He’s a model for concentrating on what’s truly important. If more leaders followed his example, perhaps we would live in a decidedly far better planet.
Here are five quotes that provide a glance into the mind and wisdom of one of the world’s most humble leaders:
“I believe that life is a marvelous adventure. And it’s worthwhile to start again 20 times over.”
Every day is another chance to start over, no matter how bad things may seem. We are products of our pasts, but we all have a chance to mold a better future in the present. Never, ever give up. Keep fighting. Anything is possible. The greatest leaders in history often emerged from terrible hardship. Pain and strife are natural aspects of life, and the wisest people are typically those who have suffered the most. Embrace this tumultuous journey we call life. There will be ups and downs, joys and sorrows, laughter and tears. Nothing is permanent. The only constant in life is change.
“I’m not the poorest president. The poorest is the one who needs a lot to live. My lifestyle is a consequence of my wounds. I’m the son of my history. There have been years when I would have been happy just to have a mattress.”
True wealth has nothing to do with money, it’s defined by what you value in life. If you value material possessions, you will never be satisfied. When it comes down to it, many of us have much more than we need to survive. The pressures of consumerism implore us to desire a life of luxury. But even if you have all the gold in the world, you can’t take it with you in death. Instead, give back to the world.
Stay humble. Help those who are vulnerable. Bestow what you have learned in life to future generations. Simplify your surroundings. Give more than you receive. Be a steward of the environment. Immortality is achieved by fostering benevolent changes in the world around you. The greatest people in history are not remembered for what they had, but for what they did.
“Be yourself and don’t try to impose your criteria on the rest. I don’t expect others to live like me. I want to respect people’s freedom, but I defend my freedom. And that comes with the courage to say what you think, even if sometimes others don’t share those views.”
Do not judge others for possessing values and perspectives that differ from your own. Morality is subjective. Geography and culture breed disparity in people’s perceptions. Don’t assume that your opinion is sacrosanct.
Simultaneously, stand up for your own beliefs and defend your rights. The strength of our convictions can only be measured when they are exposed to the wider world. Fear of expressing one’s beliefs is indicative of their inadequacy. As Holocaust survivor and writer Elie Wiesel once stated: “There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest. The worst crimes against humanity were committed because good people failed to raise their voices.”
“It’s important not to forget anything, but I think looking to tomorrow is necessary. You can’t live off memories. It’s important to look to the past, but also to lose respect for it.”
We can learn a great deal from the past. History has a lot to teach us about humanity’s failures and triumphs. If we don’t learn from our mistakes, we can never improve the world around us. At the same time, it’s risky to place too much emphasis on the past. Innovation is the key to progress. Simply put, it’s impossible to move forward without deviating from harmful rituals.
“The only good addiction is love. Forget everything else.”
There is no greater force on Earth than love. It cannot be quantified or contained; it’s boundless.
The world is in desperate need of more compassionate inhabitants. We need to stop viewing people from different countries and cultures as “others.” All humans simply want is to live happy and free lives. Regardless of our differences, we all have the capacity to love -- this is what makes us human. Be kind to strangers and embrace diversity. We cannot choose where we are from in this world, but we can choose to treat others with dignity and respect.
President Mujica’s unique philosophy of life might stun or surprise and overwhelm people all over the world. But I sincerely believe that there are wonderful insights out of his world view which can literally help us lead a happy, fulfilled, and thankful life. It’s something to think about, anyway.