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Envy and Charity

By Ophelia Chong
January 8, 2009
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One simple resolution.

We have made our resolutions and hopefully we can keep most of them. I was thinking of the resolutions most people make, "diet", "stop smoking", "work harder" - all changes for the better. But what is at the base of these changes? I believe it's Envy. We don't aspire, we envy. On the small and large screens we are treated to computerized images of perfection, to images of a better house, a better car, a better spouse; images of what we want to buy into - I am done with focus group approved selling points that say a certain percentage of us will buy that product.

Scanning the social networks online, I see people placing hope in 2009 and with the new year a sense of starting fresh. To start fresh we need to not want what is superficial or what is not beneficial. What benefits us? Eating, buying, doing only what sustains us and benefits the community. We do not need that latest piece of hardware when the one we have is doing the work now; we don't need to be the "first" to have something that means nothing in a week; we need to reach out and begin to use our resolutions for the community - put our use of non-recycles on a diet, lessen our carbon footprint and work together, the era of the lone wolf is over. Let's make a resolution to replace Envy with Charity and by doing that we all will be better for it.

Envy: occurs when a person lacks another’s superior quality, achievement, or possession and either desires it or wishes that the other lacked it.

Charity: benevolent goodwill toward or love of humanity

Image: Ophelia Chong / Behave letterpress and woodblock

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