Eat your green beans.

There was an article on tinybuddha recently that struck a chord with me. I always read their articles, but this one in particular happened to be about something I think about all the time.

The big question in the article is "If there are others suffering in the world, what right do I have to think about myself or my lofty goals?" I often feel guilty for the things that I have and the things that I want. If there was ever a poster child for lofty goals, it would be me. I want to have a high-paying and highly rewarding job. I want to write, I want people to know me. I want to have the perfectly balanced family with a beautiful house and a big garden by a lake. I want to never have to worry about money, and be able to live comfortably well into old age.

But really, how can I want all of these things, when there are people dying at such young ages in disease ravaged third world countries, with nothing more than a piece of tin and a few stick to call a home?

I suppose we're taught to feel that guilt from day one when we won't eat our vegetables..."there are starving children in Africa that would love those green beans" my mom would always tell me. But what this article is telling us is that you shouldn't downplay your dreams or your accomplishments because of it. We are all related, our lives are all one life, "an interwoven tapestry." There cannot be great wealth without great poverty, great success without great failure.

With great success comes the ability to help those in need; to start foundations or adopt children or donate to any charity you can think of. You do not need to give up worldly possessions or squander the gifts you are given in order to feel better when comparing your life to the lives of others.

Strive for Self-Actualization. Be all you can be and all that jazz. I sure plan to.

-Julie