Are you living in the lap of luxury?
Luxury is comparative.
I learned this during one of my life-changing experiences while backpacking in India.
Wanting to watch the sunrise one day, I arose early and ambled, half-awake, to the ocean. As I took photos of the sunrise, trying not to capture all the people (adults and children) who were on the beach, I had an epiphany. Even though I was raised in a poor family by Western standards, I was actually living in the lap of luxury!
Some of the people on the beach were returning in the boats with their early-morning catch. Others were finishing their morning duty of collecting food from still-wet sand. Children were putting in a day's work before school; and I was still half-asleep, sitting with my camera watching all the activity. And as simple as that sounds, to many people in the world, that is the epitome of luxury.
And at that moment, I felt the most humbled I'd ever felt. Life is inequitable, we know that; but let's at least appreciate our good fortune and not take it for granted.
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Reader Comments (6)
Amen to that!
Thank you...it's one of my favorite posts, I must admit.
Wonderful. I felt much the same when I was in Nicaragua and Mexico.
Hugs to you.
Yes, I'm sure. When I rule the world, I'm going to make it mandatory that everyone backpack for 6 months so they get to see what it's really like for many people :) It changes you doesn't it?
Thank you for your daily reminders of how to live a rich, complete life! I appreciate you.
Love,
Me
I suspect you don't need daily reminders but, because you're my friend, you get them! I just do with words what you do with art and music :)