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Lifestyle ARTICLES

Eliminate Envy

21st September 2008

We've all turned green with envy at some point in our lives. It eats away at us like a cancer and makes us do the strangest things. In it's most harmless form, envy will fill us with bitterness and dissatisfaction, but in its extreme form it can even lead to murder. I haven't killed anyone yet, but in my twenties I wasted a lot of energy begrudging others for being thinner, richer, more successful or driving a better car.

As we get older though, we recognize that envy is completely self-destructive and pointless. We start to realise that the world doesn't revolve around us and that we actually have to play an active role in making our dreams come true. Sure, some people get lucky and win the lottery or inherit a fortune, but most of the time they have to work damn hard to buy themselves the things we drool over.

When paging through one of your favourite fashion or celebrity magazines, you shouldn't compare yourself to movie stars or top models in some or other make-up ad. The photos are more than likely airbrushed beyond all recognition and they don't even look that perfect themselves. It would be a lot more sensible to compare yourself to real people, like other ladies in the supermarket, at the gym or around the office. It won't take more than a few seconds to spot someone who is shorter, fatter or less attractive than you are and you'll have to agree that you're not that bad after all.

As for your neighbour or colleague's stunning new sports car, just think of the whopping bill he or she will get when it comes time for new tyres, servicing, repairs, road tax or renewing their insurance. You can actually breathe a sigh of relief when you climb into your trusty old banger or mount your eco-friendly bicycle. And don't forget - some people can't even afford to buy themselves a bicycle, let alone an old banger!

Apart from beauty and belongings, many things we complain about and take for granted in our beautiful Britain are considered absolute luxuries in third world countries. If your train or bus is a few minutes late, don't envy the Swiss or German travellers for their super punctual public transport, thank your lucky stars that you don't live in Nigeria or Jamaica, where roads are the height of luxury. The public transport available there runs more than a few minutes late, if at all.

While the rest of the world finds the saying "it's raining cats and dogs" highly amusing, we don't find much to laugh about when it rains day in and day out. But even with the miserable English weather, there is a way to brighten your day. Some countries are crippled by devastating droughts where even the toughest farmers break down and cry as they helplessly watch their animals die one by one. So next time it rains, remember that England is just as famous for it's rolling green hills as it is for its bad weather and be thankful that we live in such a picturesque part of the world.

We need to make a concerted effort to constantly shift our focus from people who have more and to those who have less!

By MELANY KARRMICHAEL