The Love for It All

Hi my friend,

Sometimes I feel like 
I'm living in a world that 
can't quite make up its mind.

On one hand, 
we're continuously 
told to want all the things.

The latest phone.
The designer shoes.
Or the limited-edition thingy
that promises to change 
our lives.

And then, 
on the other hand,
we're taught that 
true happiness can't 
be bought.

That less is more.
That the real joy in life
lives in moments,
not things.

And I believe that.
I really do.

But…
I also love things.

I love what people 
make with their hands.
The care, the thought, and the beauty 
that lives inside a skillfully 
crafted object.

I adore the tangible world 
we get to play in.

How can I not get 
excited about it?

About the pretty dresses 
and chunky knit sweaters.

Or the stoneware mugs 
that feel weighty in my hands,
while my friend's garden tea 
is slowly steaming inside.

How can I not love that?

The antique shops…
with their quiet corners and 
forgotten treasures.

Tooled leather ring boxes 
still in perfect condition.
And all the yellowing paintings 
I hope no one will 
ever clean…

(Because I think they're 
more beautiful that way.)

Or the tiny salt spoons - 
the ones I can barely grip.
And the old saffron teapots engraved 
masterfully a hundred years ago… 
by someone who will never know 
just how much I adore 
their work.

The list would go on and on…
and I love that it does.

Though for a long time, 
I felt guilty about that.
For wanting things when 
I already had enough.

For finding joy in buying,
while knowing how many 
can barely get by.

I'm aware of my privilege.

And yet, 
I'm also aware of how 
fleeting all this is.

I am only here 
on borrowed time.
Only the guardian 
of these things. 

I know full well 
that I won't be able to 
take any of it with me 
when I go.

So while I'm here, 
I want to enjoy the playground fully -
to mix and match it all.
In the ways that 
bring me joy. 

Some days that may mean…
waking up early to breathe in 
the misty morning air, 
the kind no money 
can buy.

Other days,
foraging for antique treasures
that carry the fingerprints of time…
And bringing home the things 
I wish to keep forever.

And sometimes,
it's not the old finds,
but the new blankets 
I ordered online -

Soft and waiting to 
warm my children as I gather 
them in for a snuggly hug… 
just because I can.

And maybe 
that's the whole point - 
not choosing sides, 
but letting life be a little bit 
of everything.

Because it's all 
fleeting anyway, 
my friend. 

With love,
Elina

Imagery / The ceiling of Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna, by Elina & Her Stardust, 2025