Being Trapped Into Convenience

Imagine purchasing sports shoes for your morning run, or a pair of dumbbells for your strength training. Would you take the effort of actually rushing to a store or buying the same? In this digital era, of course not. You’d open your laptop (well that too seems like a task), or be scrolling through your cell, and placing an order. 

While proceeding towards check out, mostly you realise that you are either out of cash or just plainly averse to the idea of handing over cash, daunted by another episode of demonetisation or contracting COVID-19, even while the vaccine is almost knocking at your door. On days, that your account has been friendly towards you, you opt for Google Pay, and on other occasions (which is mostly the case), you’d end up availing the Buy now, pay later option, only to get yourself involved into a whirlpool of troubles and challenges. 

Now, addressing the Google Pay option, where in most cases you do have the privilege of earning yourself a few virtual scratch cards, while you do avail them, you discover that majorly those surprise you with a credit of around INR.5 - 10, and otherwise they are all discounts from Spas, junk food chains, and the like, thus leading you into a vicious circle all over again, with countless demands and unlimited supply. It goes without saying that all of the self-control goes for a toss when you are flooded with messages calling for a discount on the latest haircut, or the same on Burgers. 

Now, coming to the option of buy now, pay later, where you could be asked to pay as per your own convenience, and that when it’s time for payment actually, you do realise that the moment your salary gets credited, most of that goes into paying EMIs and instalments. What’s to be noted here is how are we ourselves responsible for being and getting trapped all the way more. It’s a safe conclusion that none other than us are responsible for getting and inviting ourselves into this deep mess. 

Any respite or redemption from here? Yes, of course. The first step would just be to prevent ourselves from the misery of wanting more, by ending the most viable and comforting convenience. That has to stop, that gotta go. How? Well, of course, it wouldn’t be a cakewalk, and as easy as it does sound right away, but in reality, it’s definitely far fetched, and quite difficult. But, as humans and responsible citizens, we do have a moral responsibility towards ourselves and society. 

As of now, let’s try to begin with ourselves, and try contemplating the future or the legacy that we are supposed to leave behind. Besides having a good career, financial stability, and sound health, now, it’s time to address the ethical issues as well. Maybe, for now, we could be starting off with relieving and redeeming ourselves from this flamboyant vicious circle of availing all the options that are convenient.