TO HAVE OR NOT TO HAVE THE 'MIDAS TOUCH'? DO WE NEGLECT THE VERY ESSENCE OF HUMANITY AND EMOTIONS ALONG THE WAY?

Running after money and status, preserving money and figuring out ways to gather monetary happiness. Everything nowadays is measured by the extent to which we are drowned in gold, money, cars and expensive (and to say useless) branded goodies. Within all this artificial extravagance, the real ‘us’ is lost somewhere. Within the strands of silk, our real desires are overshadowed by the presence of these short-term accolades by the society. Our acceptance is decided on these terms. And if we fail to exhibit these affluent features, the society around us exudes invisible negative energy, which engulfs us and unknowingly, makes us depressed and frustrated.

Has our life become too toxic for us to sustain the very essence of humanity?

Our behaviour nowadays has been dependent on the extent to which we are praised and loved by society. Our happiness is judged and moulded in any form as the society wills. Just the WANT to be ‘socially acceptable and popular’ makes us do numerous things, which our inner self would never really give into under normal circumstances.

Just as an example, it’s the festive season. Aah! The season of happiness, willing gift exchanges, love, and quality family time. But is it really so? The obligations and stress, which inevitably attach themselves and come as baggage with this season, are undeniable. Even though people may rant and say that you buy Christmas goodies only for your ‘loved and near’ ones out of affection and love, it is generally never limited to that. Endless lists of people to please, people at the workplace, friends and ‘friends of friends’ , neighbors and those we meet at societal gatherings are just some of the few we tend to include while checking the boxes in our To-Give-List! And off course, measuring how much would be ‘enough and classy’ is something I feel is the question every Christmas shopper asks himself. Nothing is limited to a simple traditional Christmas family meal with exchanges of gifts just within the family. Our social obligations make the holiday-festive season an even more stressful time than what our usual Mondays at office are. What to buy? For whom to buy? What to wear? Does it look expensive? Would this match his/her expectations? Does it look too formal/informal to give? Should it be one big gift or a number of small ones? Would a simple wine do? Would this gift reflect my ‘high-class’ standards? I need the gift to look more extravagant than hers!... And the list is endless. Agree or not, we all have repeatedly chanted most of these questions at least once during every festive season! Where is the peace of the festivities, bundled up with the joyous and prosperous family Christmas time? It has been overburdened with our endless struggle to match up with our yearly social performance and in the fulfillment of our unwanted burdens.
All this can have simple time-saving solutions. But in our never-ending race to be at the top and be considered as the oh-so-generously-giving-and-pleasing person, we forgo the true essence of celebrating the festivities as they are meant to be. 

Ask this question to yourself- Do you want to be an elite just in ‘Things’ or an elite in ‘Thoughts’ as well? Materialism has taken over our world of genuine thoughts and feelings. Instead of having an inclination towards the materialistic value of an item, we need to reflect on the thoughts and emotions wrapped up around it. Having the Midas touch and at the same time having a down to earth personality is something everyone longs to have. For this, our minds need to walk on paths of humbleness and demureness. Running after money and gold to prove your worth to the society somewhere down the line makes you lose your true self and makes you leap into a world of pretence. 

LEAP OUT OF THE ABYSS OF PRETENCE. START VALUING EMOTIONS AND THOUGHTS.