The Eternal Dilemma

The Eternal Dilemma

Today we have so many choices and options available in all the fields of life that it becomes very difficult to make the right choice. We seldom come across saying: ye hi hai right choice, baby. Moreover, the moment we finalize on something be it a new relationship or a new object; the next moment we become doubtful regarding our decision or, in other words, regarding the worth of our possession. And even worse is that nobody is there to support you and tell you that you have made a right decision as your friend/relative/spouse, whosoever has helped you to take the decision, is confused now about the suggestion s/he has given to you. The availability of too many alternatives makes us anxious and nervous. We are incessantly dissatisfied. We feel miserable. Thus joy of novelty and joy of ownership is marred by the confusion caused by ‘the other possibilities’. And we are never able to experience the moment of true happiness. Now when I am talking about true happiness, I don’t want to divert your attention towards something spiritual (or utterly carnal) as that is not the point of discussion here. Besides, I fully support consumerism but I wish it would be a little less complicated. We all know that the world is too much with us as expressed by William Wordsworth, and we all have become entirely materialistic. In fact, we have accepted materialism as an eternal truth of today’s life but the availability of so many options is posing a fresh threat to us. See, how it shakes our decision-making ability and, in the long run, our self-esteem and confidence. Moreover, we are becoming insatiably greedy. And our common sense tells us that if being an epicurean is bad, being a glutton is even worse.

Anyhow, pertaining to the sadness and dissatisfaction caused by our recent possession we have an easy solution and again consumerism only comes to our rescue by providing us some consolation that there is an easy and lucrative way of getting rid of our newly-owned-but-already-hated possession in the form of ‘Click, Post and Sell’ the things we are fed up with. A few decades back people used to think that the problem was with ‘the use and throw culture’ but now I think ‘the use and sell culture’ is posing an even greater threat to society. The on-going trend is even more dangerous as it makes you expect good money in return of your used things. Just visit any App or website dedicated to selling and purchasing of old items, you will find people selling all kind of stuff – from used cars to used furniture to used toys. (TOYS…. GIVE ME A BREAK. Better you donate them to an orphanage) Anyway, It’s your personal choice that you want to sell your kid’s first soft toy, first birthday dress, first story book, etc. or you want to keep and cherish these things as sweet memories and important milestones of your kiddo’s life.

To cut it short, the point I want to bring home here is that save yourself from this eternal dilemma and try to appreciate the newness before junking it aside, first mentally and then literally, for the next in-thing in the market. Be a little philosophical and think about the famous phrase Carpe Diem that means seize the day. Happiness is right there in your present gadget, present smart-phone, present car, present couch; and going a little above-board, in your present spouse.

Author: serenediva (Sonia)

A Thoughtful Observer View all posts by serenediva (Sonia)