It was a powerful image – a simple action, yet it spoke a
million thundering words. The boy – could not be older than four – spat on his
palm and then smoothed it over his palms before applying his spit over the desiccated
skin on his feet. It was the winter season and it does not help that the
humidity of the air had plummeted, subjecting human skin to drying – that is if
unprotected by moisturisers and other skin products. This boy had none of such
products to protect his skin from the harsh nature of a dry winter. He used
what he did have – what God gifted upon us – the human body. But in spite of such conditions, he seemed content.
On the other side of the road lay miles and miles of closely
packed huts made of scrap metal, twigs and even flapping pieces of cloth. These
slums, mostly illegal, house thousands of people in a small space, leaving each
person to approximately a metre-square of space. But one thing, almost
misfitting, was the smile on their faces. I turned my face and noticed a passer
by, yielding a briefcase and suited-up probably for a meeting, typing on his handheld
device with a frown upon his face. Right next to him a man carries a parcel of
laundry on his head and smiles at a fellow slum dweller and gives the friendly
Indian head wiggle.
Are those who have less material possessions truly the less fortunate?
This question pops into my head. I gather images I have seen throughout my life
– from village-settings to city-settings and start mentally comparing and
contrasting these situations and images. Every thought points to the same
answer – material possessions and wealth are not necessarily tied to happiness.
Yes, money buys you luxury items and good healthcare, lodgings, food and fulfils
every possible desire. But money cannot buy certain intangibles – love, trust,
smiles and basically positive affect. It does not necessarily go hand in hand.
In fact, the more people have, the less easily satisfied they become and the
greater the expectations become of luxury. Definitions morph, priorities change
and people start living hollow lives, if they let material possessions get a
grip of them.
Then my mind drifted again – perhaps it is not just the
money. It becomes a survival of the fittest. City dwellers are so busy climbing
ahead of each other that they forget the essence of camaraderie. I have stayed
in a village setting or in rural remote areas prior to this and have noticed
that people live as a community, not as an individual. Their definition of
brothers and sisters is not limited to the four corners of their house but
beyond, to the people in houses next to them and basically the entire community.
They live as a whole breathing, laughing, loving unit. They may have a dollar
note in their pocket instead of wads of thousand dollar notes but they have
priceless emotions in their hearts. Their eyes swim with tears of joys rather
than hurt and sadness. So who is truly less fortunate here?
Ultimately, no matter which part of the globe we are at or
our status of living, we should remind ourselves that we are breathing, feeling
humans who are born the same as everyone else. We enter this world with nothing
and leave with nothing. We can garner one simple thought on a daily basis which
will make miles of a difference in the way we live life – be appreciative for
what you have. Always remember that we were all born the same and no one is ‘less
fortunate’ than the other. God gives everyone equally – some may attain wealth
while others attain unconditional love. Whatever it is, we leave this world
with nothing but our deeds – so love your brothers and sisters beyond the four
corners of your home. Love cannot be charged to your credit card.
