The K Experience

"Luxury

n. pl. lux·u·ries
1. Something inessential but conducive to pleasure and comfort.
2. Something expensive or hard to obtain.
3. Sumptuous living or surroundings: lives in luxury.

adj. Providing luxury: a luxury car."

[Source:thefreedictionary.com] 

In a world where way less than half of the people are living it large, and way more than half of the people are hardly living. What is luxury really? Sometimes I feel like I'm living a life of luxury. Not luxury according to the above definition, well not exactly anyway. Let me explain.... 

• having the choice to shop at Whole Foods, Ralphs or Walmart;
• being a student at one of the best educational establishments around;
• being in a good, healthy, loving relationship;
• not having to worry about my brothers, my sister and my parents, who are about 5500 miles away from me right now (still worry anyway);
• having the freedom to worship whoever I want, whenever I want, and in whatever way I want;
• being able to play my guitar when I want;
• waking up in the morning;
• having great friends;
• being healthy;

and many, many other things all luxuries, and I'm totally grateful for them.

These are all luxuries for me, cos for so many others around the world, many of the things I have listed above are not even possibilities, and can never be. In this devastating month over 55,000 people were killed in the China earthquake, and over 77,000 peole were killed in the cyclone in Myanmar, with many 10's of thousands still missing, and 100's of thousands displaced from both incidents. That's not to mention the continuing violence in Iraq and Afghanistan, the victims of the past violence in Kenya, and current conflict in Darfur. I don't even have to go that far afield to look for situations worse than my own. There are far too many people who are dying from sicknesses such as AIDS or cancer, people who are victims of violent crime, or sexual abuse, people living with racial, sexual, and religious descrimination...the list goes on and on.

So in my opinion, I don't have to be able to afford a room at the Burj al- Arab Hotel (above picture), or even a luxury RV with a built in garage to be living it large. The little that I do have is more than enough.

The fact that you are able to even read this story is a luxury in itself (nearly 80% of the people in the world have no access to the internet). Not all of us are able to change the lives and situations of the people affected in the above examples, but we can make a difference. I often say that throwing money at a problem is not always the best solution, but more often than not, it helps. So if you feel the urge, why not check out the links below, and donate whatever you can.

Oxfam (for China and Myanmar disaster)
AIDS
Breast Cancer

If you can't give money, there's always the possibility that you can help someone with a problem, by giving advice or comfort throught help.com.

Be thankful for what you've got, however little it is.

[Sources:Picture of hotel from dubaihotel.ws , picture of RV from SlipperyBrick.]

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Peggy  - Hey |06-03-2008 19:17:52 Just to give some additional info on the disparity of wealth in the world: http://www.cbc.ca/money/story/2006/12/05/globalwealth.html I think the disparity has widened since then. I love the word "extortionate" so apt! Reply | Quote

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