No, but I for one thank you for stirring us out of self-righteous complacency.
I pretend to myself that my consumer life-style helps keep me happy enough with my job. Certainly going out for nice meals is my reward for myself for long shifts at Geraldton emergency dept. I could do my job and focus on its inherent rewards, and the goal at the end of it all (being able to join up with Medicin Sans Frontieres and go somewhere useful), but I'm weak, and haven't yet mastered the other goal - happiness purely from within, not from external pleasures.
None of us live noble lives. But I think there's still hope if we can respond, even temporarily, to external events whether it be donating for the current photogenic disaster, or personal activism/increased awareness of environmental footstep after watching "The Corporation", to use my personal examples. Sure I forgot the needs of others when I hit the shops this week. I'm unlikely to change my whole life all at once, but a string of small changes does build up with time. Also harping on about the needs of the poor vs the wants of the rich (a sign outside a church I saw in October) pricks us all with guilt, and may encourage a little change here and there.
no subject
I pretend to myself that my consumer life-style helps keep me happy enough with my job. Certainly going out for nice meals is my reward for myself for long shifts at Geraldton emergency dept.
I could do my job and focus on its inherent rewards, and the goal at the end of it all (being able to join up with Medicin Sans Frontieres and go somewhere useful), but I'm weak, and haven't yet mastered the other goal - happiness purely from within, not from external pleasures.
None of us live noble lives. But I think there's still hope if we can respond, even temporarily, to external events whether it be donating for the current photogenic disaster, or personal activism/increased awareness of environmental footstep after watching "The Corporation", to use my personal examples. Sure I forgot the needs of others when I hit the shops this week. I'm unlikely to change my whole life all at once, but a string of small changes does build up with time.
Also harping on about the needs of the poor vs the wants of the rich (a sign outside a church I saw in October) pricks us all with guilt, and may encourage a little change here and there.