“I sit on a man’s back, choking him and
making him carry me, and yet assure myself and others that I am very sorry for
him and wish to ease his lot by all possible means—except by getting off his
back.” – Leo Tolstoy
This Tolstoy
said regarding the irresponsible attitude of aristocrats, in 19th
century Russia, toward their serfs. Something similar could be said regarding
our attitude toward the earth—need I mention global warming and the raping of
land and sea for resources that feed our desire to be as comfortable and
inconvenienced as possible?
But, let’s think
for a moment about matters of comfort and inconvenience. Can it not be argued,
that it is the discomfort of sitting too long that makes us do something as
simple and intuitive as get up and move around? And is this not desirable for
health, wealth and beauty? Or, is it not the inconvenience of having no vehicle
that compels us to walk or ride our bicycle, working off a little stress and
raising endorphins in the process?
It seems to me
that we may have developed a warped sense of what is desirable in terms of
comfort and convenience. Do we really need a mattress that is almost two feet
thick in order to have a good night’s sleep? Is it necessary to drive vehicles
with individual seats large enough, almost, to fit two modestly sized people,
vehicles large in every other sense too (gas guzzlers that barely fit into the
confines of your average parking space) just to get from point A to point B?
Being
comfortable is less the issue, than the fact that we have developed dangerous
habits of mind governed largely by our investment in status of various sorts.
Because let’s face it, often we are motivated to make new purchases not out of
actual need, but because we place greater value on something like staying
current and comfortable, or being hip and attractive, than we do on being
responsible custodians of the earth.
Our willful
ignorance and other lazy, self-interested habits are leading us all down a path
that will eventually come very much at our own expense. We can all do better.
We can choose to
define ourselves less by what we may or may not own or acquire, and more by the
quality of our compassion and openness of our hearts.
We can also choose to see that many changes in lifestyle are not so much compromises in quality of life, comfort or convenience, as they are a shift in values which place the well being of the earth right up there with our other concerns.
We can also choose to see that many changes in lifestyle are not so much compromises in quality of life, comfort or convenience, as they are a shift in values which place the well being of the earth right up there with our other concerns.
A little minor
inconvenience and discomfort never hurt anyone. Truly. On the contrary, as
outlined above, these very often render big improvements in mind, body, spirit
and soul.
Need inspiration? Check out Yes Magazine or Resurgence. Together we can make a difference!
