How much is enough? It’s a simple question, but the answer seems complicated. I know that when I’m traveling, I can get by with less food and fewer luxuries each day. But when I’m in New York, I find myself eating more, spending more time online, listening to music more often, and generally just living a busier life. But as much as I love my life and career in New York, I’m not necessarily any happier there than I am right now in Ladakh.
The other day, Vanessa and I saw a preview of The Economic of Happiness, a new documentary by the International Society for Ecology & Culture and Helena Norberg-Hodge. In the film, she looks at how globalization has changed people’s lives all over the world. One of the main issues is that globalization has encouraged a form of consumerism that encourages, both consciously and unconsciously, us to want more and more. The message is not a radical one, but it is more obvious to me when I’m in Ladakh. I don’t see iPhones on every corner, like I do in New York. I don’t see lots of advertisements on every bus, subway, and street corner, like I do in New York. I don’t think of myself as overly consumerist, but I’m definitely aware of how all those advertisements have an effect on me.
It’s been nice to escape all the advertisements and awareness of the latest gadgets here in Ladakh. I find myself reading more. I’m walking at a more leisurely pace. I find myself having more pleasant interactions with the people in restaurants. The challenge is how do I bring this feeling home with me. Because as much as I love Ladakh, I also love New York. I enjoy the energy of the city, the museums, the great vegetarian options, and my job. If anything, I have the knowledge that I can be just as happy with less.
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