We Have Too Much Money!

Last week, 2008 ended with a lot of people sighing in relief at the passing away of a year which caused much heartburn among everyone for whatever reasons. The dawn of 2009 began with fervent prayers across the globe for a year of peace and prosperity. As if to prove that 2008 would haunt us for still some time to come, the gunshots and the thud of missiles falling could still be heard reverberating even as people ushered in the New Year.  I discovered this song and I've been humming it ever since. The magic that A R Rahman spins is just unbelievable.

But what I really want to tell is how decadent our current generation has become. The youth of today think of all the good things in life but we should pause and quit complaining about the state of the economy, the inflation and the rise in the cost of living. I mean we are richer than we ever were at any point in history! And to think that people still aren't satisfied with what they have is a tad disappointing. Children have never been more obese, adults have never been morbidly unhealthy and people have never been more depressed with their lives today than anytime in the past. All this goes to show that there is a limit to what money can buy. Our pursuit of happiness is maybe leading us to the wrong direction. Maybe it isn't about money anymore, maybe it's about how much. I see my friends, family, colleagues at the workplace and practically every second guy I bump on to the street telling me the same thing: "Life's not as exciting and interesting as it used to be." Curiously, it is here that the nouveau-rich and the filthy poor come to an understanding of sorts. Life seems to be unfair to the both of them! What more proof is required that life is indeed fair?!

I definitely belong to that school of thought which lays emphasis on the value of giving, keeping just that much which is required for one's daily sustenance. Of course, it is easier said than done. To be lured into the seductive world of the latest gizmos, the latest communication devices and to be seen flashing the most trendy wear is seen as a "statement" that either makes or breaks your standing in the notoriously fickle world of social networking. But how far do we go before we realize the tide has turned too far? Personally speaking, I find it a virtue to live within my means. That, in no way, means I cannot have my share of fun too! All I believe is that maybe we are looking for happiness in the wrongest of all places - the shiny, glossy, sexy-as-a-siren shopping mall. Maybe the staid store at the back of your home has all that you need to stay content and spread happiness around you too.

No, I am not ranting against consumerism at all. But I definitely am ranting against mindless consumerism. To sport the latest in the world of tech and to engage in debate about who traveled to the most exotic destination in the garb of eco-tourism is to basically lose the plot. Much more harm has been done by eco-tourists probably than even the evil capitalist, well-intentioned though they might be! So folks, think about this for a moment. I am not really articulate enough to eloquently and forcefully drive my point but yes, I am passionate about what I feel and I believe we would all be a little happier and could maybe even smile at the rise of the sun daily if we started caring about the environment, our impact on Mother Nature and the kind of legacy we would be leaving behind. History is ours for the making - and losing.