the challenge of rebelling against what society wants you to become

  As technology has progressed, modern conveniences have been taken for granted as they became easier to come by.  Warm, running water for showers; tasty, albeit nutrition less food for munching; and a multitude of clothing that most could do without are just a few examples of the ways that society has encouraged the wasteful lifestyle.  As the world has become more and more industrialized, it has become necessary for people to become less frugal in order to keep these industries running and to keep people in the industries employed.  We have become dependent on the idea of constant spending on desired items, rather than spending this money in a more beneficial way.  We have become enamoured with the idea that it is somehow okay to waste continuously; that somehow our own immediate gratification is more important than the sustaining of the entirety of the human race.
We have lost touch with reality.
If the world was a perfect place, all of the human race would be sheltered, well-fed, have access to clean drinking water, and would be happy.  Some might be without the latest 'it' fashion accessory, but as a whole, we would be happy and safe, because we would all be equal.  Unfortunately, the idea equality has always been a bit of a struggle for all of humanity to grasp.  As people become accustomed to the 'finer' things in life, they become less resilient to give these things up, no matter what it is costing others.
We cannot place any of the blame for how the world is now functioning on any one person.  People are products of their environments, and society has simply been encouraging the quest for self-enjoyment.  With this desire for satisfaction, we have seen how it is possible for people to go overboard and only think about themselves, to an unhealthy extent.  As this is always a possibility, it is important for people to learn to control this drive for satisfaction, and to channel this possibility for indulgence into generosity.

Through out this school year, we have studied various texts, that have all shared the theme of self-obsession, and what can happen if this indulgence gets out of control.  My blog will be exploring the role of self in the assortment of texts, and how this relates to my own life.








The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit.  ~Nelson Henderson