We have been conditioned over time that ‘more’ is good. It’s a life of excess. More of everything. More clothes, more jewellery, more houses, and even more things to fill them with. The hunger for more has come to a point where it’s almost insatiable, opines Suveera, in her weekly column, exclusively in Different Truths.

It is that time of the year again when most of us Indians get into a hurried frenzy. It’s nearly Diwali, and even though I am in Hong Kong, I cannot escape the contagious hysteria. The constant calls from family and friends have put me on a mission to declutter. I am determined to exterminate and eliminate.

The Project that I have assigned my self is that of my son’s room. One could drown in that exploding medley of toys and games. Some of these even I have forgotten existed. I cannot help but feel convicted. Transformers of all shapes and sizes stare down at me accusing. I must undo my wrong!

We have surrendered to a life of excess and dissoluteness. Luxuriance is seen in even more prevalence here in Hong Kong. A glimpse around our supermarkets says it all. The shelves are bursting with a plethora of eatables. Apples are shipped from ten different countries to offer us the variety which we can’t live without.  They are plastic wrapped, but with an organic label!  One step out and there are the restaurants flaunting cuisines from across the globe, tempting us to indulge and that’s what we do!

We have been conditioned over time that ‘more’ is good. It’s a life of excesses. More of everything. More clothes, more jewellery, more houses, and even more things to fill them with. The hunger for more has come to a point where it’s almost insatiable.

We have more friends but still less love, we have more and more possessions but wonder why still lack satisfaction. We have the best cars that money can buy, yet we have no direction! There is a sea of information for us yet we lack knowledge and understanding. There is the best bed in our house, but no sleep. In this race for acquisitions and ‘more’ something is always left behind; and more often than not, it is ourselves.

Even the children are being conditioned. A toy shop to tempt them every few meters and amusement parks galore. Exploring the neighbourhood park and it swings is not stimulating enough anymore. We have made our kids partners in this decadence.

I love Hong Kong wholeheartedly. It’s everything about this place that makes my life what it is, but I wonder if it is time to alter course a bit.

Our lives have encompassed so much and to cover it all, we are spreading ourselves rather thinly! There is no scope for depth. We divide our time more and more into compartments and realise that less and less of our time is actually ours!

As I glance through the stockpile of toys, each brings back with it a treasure of memories. The ‘ride on digger’ toy we bought for him when he was one. How he loved it! And we loved him loving it. But it was soon too small for him in size as well as novelty.

Then there was his favourite scooter that he zipped down slopes on. It always made me skip a beat. It now stands gathering dust. The love affair was short-lived.  The latest of course is this army of superheroes battling my conscience!

The alarm rings to remind me to go and pick up my children. They are at a birthday party at Disneyland. Disney is captivating and magical even for adults! The charm must be irresistible for a child.

I spot my daughter and son running towards me. I can see that familiar look in their eyes. I know there is something brewing in their minds. There is more to that look! They stare up at me with those puppy eyes and say “mummy please can we have the annual pass”? It is a coveted ticket that lets you visit Disney as many times as you want within one year. It takes a lot of resolve, and it nearly breaks my heart, but this time I say “No”.

Photos by the author and from the internet.

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Suveera Sharma

Suveera Sharma is a postgraduate in English and a qualified software trainer. She is an avid reader and writer. Being the daughter of an army officer, she spent her childhood in various cantonments all over India. At present, she is settled in Hong Kong. She runs storytelling sessions for little kids and writes in her spare time.