Just be grateful, and it makes everything a whole lot better.

I have recently been watching the news, and what struck me the most, is the devastation in Pakistan because of the catastrophic floods. It made me research further into the problems faced by masses of people around the world. For example, the fact that there IS enough food produced in the world, however a sixth of the world’s population is starving this very minute.

I am part of the 2^nd generation of British Indians in this country and being honest, I have had a good life, in terms of the love and care received from my parents and I have never struggled to recieve food, clothes and the education I want. I have had the option to choose which career I want to go into, and what path I want to follow. This life would seem to be a luxurious life to at least 80% of the world population. Who have little or no food each day, have no real opportunity in education, and the clothes they wear are only to cover their skin. However, a lot of us who have lived the same life as me are STILL unhappy, why? Because we don’t get the food we want, don’t have the clothes we want to wear and don’t have the latest mobile phone, or laptop (which just is never good enough) that we also want. Yes, putting it in this context, it seems ridiculous.

We are in a competition. A never-ending struggle to be better than the next person. This is double-teamed with consumerism, which means that the majority of people literally have no hope to actually be happy. Because being happy in the consumer-driven world, means having the “latest mobile” for example. But that bubble of happiness is only waiting to burst when a newer device arrives which is better. The same can be said about food, although we need it, we take “eating food” to another level. To the point where eating food is not for survival but pleasure, which it should be, but we are sometimes unhappy with the food we have.

Recently I have been reading the “Sadhana of service” which is a compilation of lectures given by Eknathji Ranade. He touched on this idea of being happy with the food you receive. He talks about how no matter what is received on your plate, you should eat it contently and be grateful for it. Eating in a sullen mood means that the potential for receiving nutrition from it is reduced, and it can even become harmful. So, any food you receive, you should relish it and be happy. You are in the 20% of people who actually receive food and you can benefit from eating food in a happy state of mind.

We are in a world where we have a choice to live and feel the way we do. We should aim to step out of the cycle of consumerism, since this would mean other people are dictating the way we live and the way we feel. There are people in the world who would give an arm and leg for the position many of us are in now. We have to remember just be grateful because it really does make everything a whole lot better.