Letter to the Editor - Another contribution to the ‘Are we rich or poor’ debate |24 February 2016

“The believers in life and the bounty of life…their coffers are never empty”   (The Prophet by Khalil Gibran)

Indeed bookworms and lovers of Literature have appreciated the opinion piece from Sir James Mancham on the subject ‘Are we rich or are we poor’, which was followed by another opinion piece entitled ‘Food for thought for the Wannabe's of Seychelles’ by Rowny Vidot. As one myself, (a bookworm and lover of Literature), those two opinion pieces stimulated me to add something.

This takes me back to the recent past, during the presidential election campaign. I felt obliged and sad to read and take note of quite a few photos of shabby dwellings, in political papers, assuming it is really Seychelles! I would not dare to make any absurd comments regarding those photos themselves, as I would prefer not to be as contemptuous as the photographer, but henceforth every now and then when the subject of ‘Rich and Poor’ crops up, I stop short to ask myself as to why I have never been shown who dwell in such state and what contain such dwellings … meaning furniture wise.

I and others might have probably been shocked to note that in some of those same dwellings one can find expensive hi-fi sets, flat screens, expensive mobiles and other latest technology gadgets as well as ‘haut-de-gamme’ occupants. I live in a district where I witness such things (albeit I am left to see such dwellings as in those photos!) and such attitudes exist, more or less in all the districts in Seychelles. Here I commend Mr Vidot's point (g) of his article and I quote the last line only “Why? Because we are poor??? Or because we do not have our priorities right???”

Bill Gates says: “If you are born poor it is not your mistake, but if you die poor it is your mistake!”

On another level, many believe that on the other side of the ocean lie ‘Greener Pastures’. Mr Vidot has said a few things on that matter but I would make my point, in this illustrated paradox of life, taken from the book titled ‘You Can Win’ by famous author Shiv Khera (one of my favourites).

“Acres of Diamonds

“Hafiz was a farmer in Africa who was happy and content. He was happy because he was content. He was content because he was happy. One day a wise man came to him and told him about the glory of diamonds and the power that goes along with them. The wise man said, ‘if you had a diamond the size of your thumb, you could buy your own city. If you had a diamond the size of your fist, you could probably own your own country’.

“And then the wise man left.  That night Hafiz could not sleep. He was unhappy and he was discontented. He was unhappy because he was discontented and discontented because he was unhappy.

“The next morning Hafiz made arrangements to sell his farm, took care of his family and went off in search of diamonds. He looked all over Africa and could not find any. He looked all through Europe and could not find any. By the time he got to Spain, he was emotionally, physically and financially depleted. He was so disheartened that he committed suicide by throwing himself into the Barcelona River.

“Back home, the person who had brought Hafiz's farm was watering the camels at the stream that ran through the property. Across the stream, the rays of the morning sun hit a stone and made it sparkle like a rainbow. He thought the stone would look good in his living room. He picked up the stone and put it on his mantle piece. That afternoon, the same wise man came back and saw the stone sparkling. He asked, ‘Is Hafiz back?’. The new owner said, ‘No, why do you ask’. The wise man said, ‘Because that is a diamond, I recognize one when I see one.’ The man said, ‘No that is just a stone I picked up from the stream, come I will show you. There are many more.’ They went and picked some samples and sent them for analysis. Sure enough, the stones were diamonds! They found that the farm was indeed covered with acres of diamonds!”

One never realises what is inside of oneself or what is at home until one loses all. Recognise it! That one has his/her own power to change one's own life! 

Unbelievably so, also in this present time in Seychelles, many rich are crying poor! I believe therefore that a real metamorphosis of oneself is strongly needed, which will surely bring oneself way beyond one's present limited imagination, beliefs and knowledge.

In the final analysis, a peaceful heart, mind and soul is the key to being poor, rich or beautiful. The external is simply “a plus”! Like famous Dolly Parton says in her beautiful song ‘Coat of many colours’,  “One is only poor, only if one chooses to be...”

Noemie Woodcock