Taking a break

I made up a new to-do list -- and it's frightening.

To make myself feel better, I ordered some Circa organizer supplies from Levenger. It beats having a Twinkie, under the circumstances, but it's an analogous behavior.

The thing about Levenger is, it's a lot like Coach (and many other companies): its stuff is beautiful (and before Coach capitulated to trendiness, its stuff was more beautiful than it is now, by far) but utterly and completely non-essential.  It sells pure luxury items.  Yes, many are functional as well -- but those functions could be (and are) fulfilled by much less expensive products at much cheaper venues. I know because those other venues are where regular folks -- like me -- usually shop.

I struggle with the whole idea of luxury and privilege more and more as I get older -- not that you can tell from today's purchase (and hey, struggle and talk are cheap).  I like it (as evidenced by my choice of an Alaskan cruise for a holiday next May and my plans to Do Nothing on the ship), but I also feel guilty as hell when I opt for it.  As I get older and am also better paid and more responsible than I was earlier in my life, I become increasingly uncomfortable with luxury and privilege generally.

Because while I'll be floating on the high seas or organizing my life in a high-end notebook, others within a few miles of me will be going hungry, worrying about their kids, whatever.

What's that saying?  “For of those to whom much is given, much is required”?  (I think that's John F. Kennedy --  but actually, I think it's really the New Testament [yup, I just looked it up: it's Luke 12:48]).

The concept applies to more than the just the Kennedys and to the extremely wealthy of this world, of course. It applies to each of us, and it exhorts us to use our gifts, whatever they may be, to benefit not just ourselves but those who don't have those same gifts.  It doesn't refer simply to material goods: it refers to other gifts as well. The most destitute among us have gifts to share, if their lives are such that they have the wherewithal to do so.

Okay, so I use some of my so-called gifts for others.  Sometimes.  Now and then.  Even, at times, when it's distinctly unpleasant.  But most of the time? Come on. Basically I lead a very, very solipsistic life.  Being an introspective, thoughtful person -- and I am that (i.e., thoughtful as in I think a lot, not as in I'm so considerate) -- doesn't make me less solipsistic.  In fact, it may make me more so.

And no, I don't think this ethical dilemma that I'm writing -- well, not about, exactly, but around -- here is solved by balancing out one's more self-indulgent behaviors or purchases by taking with one hand and giving with the other. In other words, I give to charities, I volunteer for various causes -- but that still doesn't address fundamental, systemic inequities I see around me. It doesn't even touch them.  It's better than nothing -- but not by much, frankly.

Hmm.  What a wildly uncomfortable thought on which to end this post! My to-do list is a picnic compared to this ...

Comments

[sparkly_jules]

Please do not think that one person cannot make a difference, they can. Are you not sponsoring a child somewhere in the world? Who would sponsor that child if not for you?

I went to a lecture last week given by Paul Hawken. He has a book out called "Blessed Unrest: How the Largest Movement Came Into Beingo and No One Saw it Coming." Essentially, all the little groups like save the bridge, save our old courthouse, help the homeless, battered women's sheltered, save the (fill in the blank) are all part of one systemic group that has no leader, no government, no bureaucracy (sp) or red tape, and therefore gets things done. People give to and assist those programs that matter to them. We can all save the world. It made me feel very hopeful, even though I think that his Smith & Hawken products are totally and completely overpriced. :-P

I'm going to blog about it in my (Ha!) free time!

You're fine. Quit picking on yourself.

Jules

[sparkly_jules]

Correction: "Blessed Unrest: How the Largest Movement in the World Came into Being and Why No One Saw it Coming."

[Deluzy]

Jules, I firmly believe one person can make a difference. I think my point is simply that we need to ask ourselves if we're really doing all that we can reasonably do, as individuals?

For me, the answer is no.

This doesn't mean that I think one has to be Mother Teresa or Gandhi to make a difference -- but it does mean that I can and should do more than I'm currently doing.

And I'm trying to figure out how to turn those fine words and feelings into action.