Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Luxuries

This morning, NPR ran a story about the correlation between poverty and obesity. This reminded me of a conversation I use to have with a friend . . . how every single week, when I see my groceries moving up the conveyor belt towards the checkout clerk, I mentally check off those items I wouldn't be buying if I were broke. No 2 liter bottles of soda. The cheaper brands of cat food. No multiple bags of chips or boxes of flavored crackers.

But, this bit on the radio also made me realize that the other groceries I relish buying are also something of a luxury. The twice weekly trips to the farmer's market to buy fresh tomatoes and watermelon and peaches? A luxury. The several pounds of locally raised angus beef in my freezer? Huge luxury.

I know I'm tremendously lucky simply because I can buy locally raised angus beef or peaches that were still on the tree yesterday. I need to be mindful of that when I'm complaining about the minor things in my life.

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