IndiaPost.com

Supersize greed
Sunday, 03.04.2007, 11:21pm (GMT-7)

Big. Bigger. Biggest. It seems like everything in life is about supersizing these days!

Big TVs that need even bigger living rooms. Big bedroom sets that seems like they are just too much furniture for the bedroom. Big servings of food that are definitely more than what we need for our body. Big bodies that are much too big and heavy for our feet to carry. Big shopping that is bigger than our credit cards so we borrow against our future. Big houses, so we end up with our children at one end and us at the other. And finally, big egos.

The problem with all this 'big' thinking is that our garbage is turning out to be big too. I believe we have too many things in our lives, much more than we would ever need - too many clothes, too many accessories, too many needs and desires and simply too many demands.

To top it, we live in the world's largest economy, one that brainwashes us every season to buy new, wear new and feel new. I will never forget the Macy's advertisement that said, "If you are not wearing new, you are not in fashion!" And the thing is there are people who actually believe that, people who will go out and buy new for the sake of new. Buying the new is not as big a problem as getting rid of the old. And we do it the way we know best - garbage!

Our big needs and big shopping that are making for big bags of garbage are creating big problems for us - too much packaging is not the best thing for our Mother Earth, you know! But lets be honest - who has the time to think about the Earth when one is so busy filling up their lives with 'big' things?

I understand ambition. I also believe that ambition channeled well, leads to big stars and big dreams. What I don't understand is greed. Severe greed. Greed without giving any thought to the millions of people that are dying or going hungry or are homeless, across the world. Most of us live very selfishly, with only 'us' in mind.

Why, I ask? Why do we not care what happens to other people around the world? Why do we not care about the hungry when we eat out every day, and waste food? How come we do not think about the un-clothed when we are buying our 12th white cotton shirt? Have we become so heartless as a race?

This article reminds me, of me. There was a time when there was nothing I loved more than diamonds, in this world. I told my husband I would not marry him till he gave me a diamond ring, set in Platinum. When our son was born, he gave me a diamond set in platinum to wear around my neck. I thought there would never come a time when I would have enough diamonds. And then…I saw Blood Diamond, the movie. And learnt how the ones who dig the diamonds never ever saw them. And how diamonds are causing wars in some of the poorest countries in the world. I came out of that movie, promising myself that I will never ever buy a diamond again. That's all it took. A movie. But what that movie did was empower me with information, that I had no idea about. Information that finally changed my mind, for the better.

We seldom ask ourselves enough questions. We do not ask ourselves whether a worker sitting in unhygienic conditions, working in a sweatshop, has made the shoe we are buying. We do not ask ourselves whether what we are buying is toxic for the world. We definitely do not ask ourselves whether what we are buying and bringing into our life is bringing us good energy or bad.

Toxic. Big toxic. Supersize greed. These words and more would aptly describe many of us. Perhaps the realization is half the word done. Now it's a matter of acting on it. Can't think of anything that is stopping me. What's your excuse?

Anika Sharma