Being vs. Wanting

I wanted a new watch.

So I started shopping.

“This watch tells the time in different time zones.”

“This one displays the current date.”

“This displays the day of the week and the month. It’s called a triple date watch.”

“Tactile watches tell time even without you looking at it.”

“Quartz watches are powered by a battery. Mechanical watches are powered by gears and springs.”

Shopping for a watch to tell time was taking a lot of time.

So I detached.

I took a breath.

Instead of wanting, I tried being.

I went for a walk.

I read.

I looked at trees.

Pretty soon, I lost my desire for a new watch.

Epictetus says wealth consists not in having great possessions, but in having few wants.

Being reduces the grip on wanting.