Formerly in the 1770s a battle raged between the armed forces of the British Empire and its American colonists. The colonists were making a lifestyle selection, a decision for what they felt was most significant for their future delight. They were prepared to fight to achieve it, and, if required, to lay down their lives; a prominent fighter in the colonial army summed this up: "Give me liberty or give me death!"
This inspirational quote, on this current day, has discovered a new life though in a modified form to portray a changed world that we are a part of. Like several punk bands the Dead Kennedys were social commentators, and so named one of their albums "Give me convenience or give me death."
Easy to be attracted by this. Easy to see the quickness. Easy, too, to look past the wisdom.
Whatever we say, we are a really (financially!) rich society, and we can have all sorts of things to make life more easier. Of course that tempts us to believe that if it is there, we should at all times get it. Which is a recipe for sorrow.
A major cause of pain here in Melbourne is that our public transport system is believed as bothersome. Ever travelled on Indian Railways? No of course not, and that is irrelevant as Someone Must Fix My World So I Can Have The Ease I Need/"Need". Really I don't think I have ever been on an Indian train that was greater than 8 hours late - apparently that's a really lucky run :) There's no culture of convenience in India; why would you require one?
Perhaps due to our unhappy perceptions about public transport, and the need for ease, one's own private car is widely thought of as a necessity, and people here normally see me as if I come from Mars when I say I have never had a driving lesson. The reality is, I look at the poor car drivers and I really believe I'm happier without what they've been brainwashed into thinking is easier. First up there is the yearly cost of running/paying off a car; I think of it as a 6 week trip to Europe or 3-6 months in Asia, but I'm certain other people would find lots of other fun ways to spend the $$. And then you must add in the traffic jams, searching for a park, needing to stay sober, speeding tickets, road rage ... "But it makes it easy to go away for the weekend" they say - apparently that makes it all worthwhile.
A few people have shown me their i-Whatever of late. You can tap it and as well as music, the internet, and a readout of your location offered by a space satellite ("My goodness! I'm in my house!"), you can explore the GDP information for all the nations in Africa.
"Convenience" in 2010 evidently means spending a lot more time tapping a small object as you walk down the street. But does it make your life happier? Even a bit?
Author Resource:-
Live the difference Life Coaching is based in Melbourne which offers transformational one-on-one coaching both face-to-face and on the phone. People come from all walks of life and live in and around Melbourne, interstate and overseas. Visit http://livethedifference.com.au for more information on Life Coach
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