Who Chopped the Legs off of my High-horse?

Beach front property in Dubai spreads out like palm fronds. It's topography takes it's cues from the natural and yet it is unnatural like a Double-D boob job on a 5' woman. Human beings seem to be constantly trying to enhance what they already have. Consumption and expansion are key words here. It is like we all never forgot the word "mine" once we learned it.

Lately, I have been thinking about the incredible amount of "stuff" I purchase and consume. Frankly, I am worried. I have addictions to buying scented lotions and organic produce above and beyond what I need. I buy too many items of clothing and it is inching me out of my bedroom because I have no problem buying "NEW" into my life, whilst I have a major problem scooting the "OLD" stuff out because some day I am going to need that uncomfortable silver shirt so I can pretend I am a space alien. Right? Wrong! Someone else could be rocking that shirt. Someone who can't get enough of the metallics. For years I have been thinking that I should make a gigantic quilt out of all my old ratty clothes that I never wear unless it is Halloween and even then I can't wear all of them at once. What's wrong with me?! I'm a pack rat and I need help. I love HGTV and often fantasize about having one of their organizational gurus making a visit to my apartment. Number one rule to organizing one's life is to get rid of things you don't need. I know how to be a minimalist, sadly the sentimentalist in me jumps in the way almost every time. In essence, I am being consumed by my own consumption. For all my admiration for environmental activism I am still a perpetrator. As I live and breathe and buy I am hurting the planet by making more trash. I recycle. I scoff at styrofoam. I used to grow my own vegetables. I drive an economical car and chose a job close to home. I rarely use my air-conditioner. Yeah, yeah, yeah - I am contributing in my own way, but I feel guilty for not doing more and for not doing less. The pathetic part is even as I am writing this I am fantasizing about all the crap I want. Someone should slap my hand and send me to my room pronto.

Last night I dreamt about the earth in it's most pristine state: undulating coast lines, thick forests, birds chirping, clean water with happy fish, gorgeous pink and blue skies, frisky dogs in moist meadows, vibrant flowers and not another human being nor building in sight. As I looked around my eyes welled up with tears and a smile leapt across my face. I woke up smiling.

We should be better to mother earth. We shouldn't take so much without giving back. Giving waste is a miserable gift. I wouldn't give my mother a basket of trash, so why do I continue doing that to the earth? A "Sorry" does not cut it, something must be done.