Stairway to Heaven, sang and made very popular by the group Led Zepplin, hit the lyrics right on the head when expressing the definition of greed.
Robert Plant, lead singer and composer explains the lyrics: "it was some cynical aside about a woman getting everything she wanted all the time without giving back any thought or consideration....'
It is unfortunate to meet or to hear about such greedy people, the ones that want everything for themselves. The ones that never have enough and always want more.
I heard a saying a while back that went like this 'some people are so poor that all they have is money.' How sad.
Of course money is important but what can it provide apart from the necessities of life? In our society, we want it all, the big house, the cars (notice the plural), the cottage, the toys and basically everything that we want.
Oh, don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking it one bit. If you can afford it and if it's important to you and if everything else in your life is balanced, why not go for those things? The problem does not lie here.....
No, the problem lies when we try to acquire these at the expense of important things. At the expense of time spent from family and loved ones, at the expense of our physical health and also at the expense of our mental health. What is the point I ask?
The worst type though is to try to acquire at the expense of others.
This is without a doubt the lowest of the low. I'm talking about the thieves, the ones that should be working but are not, the ones that are taking advantage of other people's goodness and yes, even those that are taking advantage of the law.
I've learnt recently that the law has nothing to do with morals. That if someone qualifies to receive a certain sum of money, even if it is known that this money will be wasted on drugs and alcohol, that it is ok; that the judges really don't care what you do with the money. If you are entitled to it, it's yours.....even if it will hurt someone else by receiving it.....
There is a link between that amount of greed and hurting others to attracting revenge and hate from the people around you though. I'm talking about deep rooted hurt. A pain so bad that the person on the other end of the spectrum will feel the effect of that greed forever. The selfish acts of someone wanting everything for themselves no matter what or whom it destroys.
Me, myself and I.....the important trilogy that can not only destroy yourself, but impair the others around you.
Revenge is obviously not the answer. It is normal to feel the need for retribution though, to want to do something about this injustice but it is not the answer.
You see, these type of people, the greedy ones that will stop at nothing to acquire material goods, are usually left to be alone. Alone with their conscience, alone with their thoughts and mostly, just alone....
You might say that these types of people don't care, that they don't have a conscience. Perhaps you are right, but I'm willing to guarantee that at one point in their life, even if it is at the time of their last breath, that these selfish and greedy people will get a thought about their actions and about their life.
Dignity is not engrained in a lot of us. A person who has dignity, that takes a high road and that overlooks other people's greed is indeed the winner in most situations. However, dignity is not at the top of your list if you are the person that is being hurt by the other's greed......
No, it's not a high road that you want to take but in the end, you have to be able to live with yourself.
I think it comes down to being able to look at yourself in the mirror. To be honest with the people you love and especially to be truthful to yourself.
Money is important, but it is not the most important thing in life. We all work hard for our money, but if we make ourselves sick over it, alienate others around us or worst don't do any good whatsoever with it, what is the point?
Greed, revenge and dignity...which road does one take?
SSW :)
'Wall Street is greedy, reckless and they operate illegally. That's fine. But what do you do? Bernie Sanders
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