Chapter 5.2 Gluttony

Gluttony

“Gluttony is an emotional escape, a sign that something is eating us.”

Peter DeVries (1910-1993) Author/Playwright

Gluttony can be a response to deprivation … a rewarding of “poor-me”. In the guise of being good to oneself, one gorges on food, drink and revelry, ultimately attaining the prize of obesity, addiction or sloth. We live Gluttony in the present, and a good chance in the future, until we can break bad habits and get back on track. Gluttony is the servant of the ego … me .. Me .. ME!

Gluttony can also be a display of wealth, that one can afford great feasts, multiple Hummers or different jewelry each day. Gluttony is a part of the bad Pride, the Pride that says that I am better than you, and I’m going to rub your face in it.

This Gluttony also leaves a trail of waste … waste of useable resources that could have had a more productive outcome. We buy new gadgets, new furniture, new things, and throw the old away. In the U.S. we have 5% of the world’s population and we consume 25% of the world’s annual resources. If the rest of the world consumed at the same rate that we do, the world’s natural resources would be exhausted by now.

Gluttony is a big, insecure ego. Practice temperance, self-control, and generosity.

“He who knows when enough is enough always has enough.”

Lao Tzu (570-490 B.C.) Chinese Founder of Taoism

Now that’s one we can all live by!

***

e