Physical needs

“Excess ain’t rebellion”- Cake (Rock and Roll Lifestyle)

On Earth in 2025, many of us have our physical needs (mostly) met. We live in a place with running, drinkable water. We have a refrigerator and cupboards with enough food to survive the winter, or at least give it a go.

Note: this does not apply to everyone on Earth, or even in the “developed” world, in 2025. Even in the absolute richest of countries, children go hungry and people are enslaved. I’m not talking to those people - those people are unable to meet their own needs and we’ll talk about that later.

Many of us, on the other hand, have access to so many calories that we have to take medication to handle the extra wear and tear on our systems - not to mention the oils and chemicals found in the “modern American diet” (i.e. processed foods). Some of us have access to alcohol or drugs (medicinal or no, legal or no) and excesses of all kinds (shopping, etc.)

For many of us it is no longer the basic physical needs of food and water and shelter, but the emotional and spiritual needs that we are ignoring. Hence, the addictions (shopping, eating, drugs), and self destructive tendencies and all the things we do which move us further from getting our needs met.

The biggest need, when it comes right to it, is secure attachment.

We need to feel connected to another in such a way as to feel a strong, healthy bond. Where you can go away from that person (like a 3 year old from their parent on the playground) and know that you will be welcomed back. In fact, this need to so large that Dr. Gabor Mate notices that you will literally turn your back on your authentic self in order to remain in an attachment to your parent (and maybe later, your romantic partner).