“No, you can’t always get what you want”
The Rolling Stones (1969)
Well, I most certainly wanted this...
...and indeed, I got it!
“You can’t always get what you want” is not the same as saying “you never get what you want.
That said, the quoted lyric, will often ring true!
By way of a relatively unimportant (but recent) example:
Having acquired that lovely Gibson Les Paul, I decided that it needed a (very expensive!) Vox valve amplifier to go with it...
Now, it’s not that I needed another guitar amp. I just felt that the new guitar warranted a significant upgrade.
Of course, the pictured amplifier, would have been such a thing.
In a sense therefore, this is another thing that I wanted.
BUT
Maybe my existing amplifier is perfectly good enough, and there isn’t, any need to spend an extra £ enormous!
On, gratefully received, advice, I finally decided to hold fire, and not rush out to a music shop.
It was at least worth holding back, and at least experimenting with EQ and effects, to see what sort of sounds I can get out of my existing gear.
I did just that, and guess what...
While not entirely akin to a valve amp, it now sounds, not too far short!
I therefore decided to stick with what I’ve got and avoid unnecessary expenditure.
So, I wanted it, but (although a decision of my own) didn’t get it!
Hence..."you can’t always get what you want”
Yes – I originally wanted it; so why was that the case?
Widely speaking (as with so many purchases), I felt that its acquisition would create an enhanced feeling of happiness.
As you will be aware from earlier posts, this is something that I now crave/need!
From earlier posts, you may be aware that for myself, I have gradually reached the conclusion that the psychological function which best addresses my own post- accident emotional shortcomings (very great as they are!), is behavior.
Almost all previous posts have included an outline of behavior, that I have found, contribute to my emotional wellbeing.
There has however, to date been a big omission, and there is another form occupation to throw into the mix, that I have quite often believed would address my very negative feelings.
......Deep breath, and a brave admission...
I tend towards trying to throw money at the problem!
I have frequently, speculated that...
...Maybe the answer lies in material acquisitions?
But
With hindsight – WRONG!
Of course, treating oneself, from to time, will often raise one’s mood.
This is true of myself; and I have no doubts that the amplifier would have raised many a smile.
But
Is this good enough to provide, anything of a comprehensive /lasting fix for my v2.0, major emotional difficulties?
In short (and perhaps predictably):
NO!
Pleasure from a material acquisition will often be largely relatively transient.
To coin a phrase; The novelty wears off.
At risk of stating the obvious, I am searching for a long-term rebuilding of my life...
...and a new (and unnecessary) guitar amplifier isn’t going to contribute to this at all!
Further, I am coming round to seeing the spending of money (in itself) as value neutral.
Perhaps the more pertinent issues are, how much is spent and what is purchased with it.
A proposed acquisition will usually have both positive and negatives attached to it...
An obvious positive would be the pleasure gained from the new possession and that, in a way, this would chip away at my tarnished emotional state.
But note the words “chip away”. It will only assist with the bigger issue to a minute extent.
This positive should then be seen in the context of its related negatives. EG
· I didn’t really need it
· Surely the money could have been spent more constructively
Drawing a balance, its miniscule advantages don’t justify significant and largely unnecessary expenditure.
I am coming to believe the answer doesn’t lie in continuous spending and that I ought to focus more, on constructive methods of building a new, full, and worthwhile lifestyle.
And let’s not forget...
“But if you try sometime, you’ll find
You get what you get what you need”
