Moderation.

At the office, we recently hired several new people. Including one that goes through dry cereal faster than Cookie Monster at a Mrs. Fields orgy. The idea of sharing (2 boxes amongst 36 people) has obviously passed him by. But is he at fault or is it society? Or is it me for making this much cereal available?

Here's something interesting that's been twisting around in my head lately. Are we allowed to enforce our own personal laws of moderation in consumption on others in order to serve the greater good? Being an American - the automatic answer is "no". No one in the States is about serving a greater good - we're all here to serve ourselves and quite possibly, in a magnanimous gesture, our families and loved ones. But certainly no one other than that. I think that's why people often refer to America as a "young" country. We have the spunk, energy and will of a younger person but also their selfish wants and needs. In fact we laud them. I've been in three successive relationships where each man was in a self-proclaimed selfish phase and not only thought it was an acceptable state of mind but a completely appropriate one.

FAIL assholes, FAIL.

Do you know what happens when you serve yourself and only yourself? You end up fucking alone. (literally and figuratively)

In countries with traditions centuries old like Japan or Sweden, there is a certain amount of hospitality bestowed upon the common traveler. There is something about the confidence of living in a country that acts like an elder statesman, that doesn't worry if you hack into their internet or steal a candlestick (ha. LezMis reference, take that)
a) because why would you do that for? slap on the wrist, don't do it again
b) no one there would succumb to such reckless and bad behavior.

And people in other countries? Share. They share stories and wine and song and homes. In England, people will buy rounds of drinks. Not just one or two for the bird they're interested in, ROUNDS, for everyone. To take this to an extreme example, even though it is often wrought with corruption, food shortages in other countries can lead the government to ration out portions. Because everyone needs to eat. Divorce is ridiculously prevalent in our society. Based in selfishness. When you're making a choice to marry someone it should be completely about that other person. As they should be about you.

Real success only matters when you have someone to share it with. By all means, pursue the things you want to pursue, only go to events that you feel will enrich your life - but understand that there are different types of enrichment. The same family dinner where I am criticized for not having a career, lamented for not being married is the same one where I can hold my cousins' babies, learn how to negotiate around subtle social barriers, get to feel reconnected with people who share my name and my genetic material. I'm so surprised that at the same family events there are family members that I feel so detached from and at the same time ones that I want to hang out with all day.

Remember this today when you're out in the world. That cupcake tastes sweet, but it's even better when you have someone to share it with.