The British government invests quite heavily in the professional development of teachers these days, so recently I was lucky enough to be put up in a nice hotel for a training course.
Over lunch my colleagues were disconcerted to see me take pictures of objects rather than people, but I think you will agree it was worth while.
Can you explain why the tray and its contents appears so truncated in the image through the vase? Why is it back to front?
Moat House Hotel, Stafford, UK, 08/06/2009
Take a moment to estimate the amount you spend each year on luxury goods such as the following:
• Alcohol
• Tabacco
• Chocolate
• Ornaments
• Jewelry
• Fashion
• etc.....
Include amounts to account for big purchases. For example you could calculate the difference in price between a "sensible" car and the luxury model you might own and then divide it by the number of years you expect to keep it.
When you have your annual "luxury budget" sit back and reflect on how the figure feels. Do you get value for money from your luxury budget? Are there any items that damage your health on the list? Is that really how you want to spend your hard-earned money?
Now think about your luxuries budget from a different angle. How does the amount compare to the 1 dollar per day earned by the world's poorest people?
Imagine what it must be like to live on a dollar a day - how could you possibly avoid disease and hunger? Just one more dollar a day would double your income and improve your chances enormously.
Identify which items you feel you could (or should!) live without and pledge that money to charity TODAY. Just imagine how many lives you could save. If you find it hard to imagine not having your luxury car, just imagine 100 dead african babies in the back....
If your luxuries are important status symbols for you, then just let people know about your charitable donations. They will be even more impressed by conspicuous charity than with conspicuous consumerism.