Why are we in love with Zero's?

        Let's go back a bit to take a look into the Marketplace culture say about 3000 to 4000 years ago.  Let's put ourselves into ancient Sumerian lands, what would be modern day Iraq and the Saudi Peninsula, where the Tigris ans Euphrates Rivers go out to the sea.  Here we would find some of the first constant and functional market places in the modern world, as people new it then.  Here one would be able to find everything that was needed for life.  Life would eased by the ability to share a commonplace for a common purpose of trading goods for their needs.  A new, more uplifted life was beginning to evolve.  Time was being spent pursue great endeavors, such as developing writing, art, sciences, city development and the improvement of commerce.  A settled life was taking hold and a new manifestation of daily life came into play, a need to amass wealth in the form of possession.  When I say possession, I mean the acquisition, display, and hoarding of people, places and things.  In this case we will only deal with the junk and stuff.   The ability to house and collect the triumphs of mankind has as many reasons as there is stuff.  What I am hoping to spark a thought about is why we believe that the effort one puts out today is so much different in todays world as it was then.
         In a period of time we live in today, where Need has very little to do with our lives today. We commonly show shallow pity to those who truly have needs, like food, clean water, shelter and health care by dropping a few coins into basket somewhere or giving a hour once a year to serve food in a kitchen.  In this way we justify our selfish lives by displaying our perception of successes to those who we perceive to not be successful at all.  Many of us do it more subtly by dropping hints to where we bought something or how much we spent on it. Even in that ancient marketplace, there was some proclaiming to be the best and you didn't get the right item unless you bought it from them, regardless of how that person lived their life or how they were able to deliver the item to you.  For the first time in our buying culture the average buyer is more aware of the nuances of the marketplace and the quality of our modern western life is pretty darn good and very complete. One doesn't need to be a Sultan or King to have ice in their possession these days.
           I spend my days searching the globe to bring merchandise into the marketplace for many people to buy and sell.  I do this in such a manner to help those acquire these goods to improve their life, either by giving them something they need for the home or to help provide a pathway to earn a living to help them get the what they need for their family or themselves or the involvements of their lives.  What seems to be the big question I  often get, is How do I know what to sell something for? or How do you know how what to pay for something?
          What this article is about is not what I do specifically but to help one think about why an item might cost what it does based on how it is delivered to you and by who.  Can you support someones effort to provide the service and pay what they ask.  Or can you choose another rout.  What about if one chooses to pay and acquire goods you would not necessarily have for yourself.  Maybe they paid more or you got a perceived better deal.  What's the difference.  I will tell - Can you truly be satisfied with what you have chosen for yourself or will you be preoccupied with what someone else did.   Please don't misunderstand, it is important to keep a level playing field in our culture so that we constantly are improving our lives so that we have can share in that as we leave this existence.
           Let me be honest with you, I buy and trade goods to make a profit.  This profit is making the way for me to provide for my family and contribute to my community and the culture in which I live.  I have been honest with myself about why I need to accomplish a certain financial goal.  Do I need to arrive there for the sake of the money or for the more noble ends of Family, Community, and Country.  Can I sleep well knowing that my efforts today move this forward.  Did I find myself angry or upset do to someones else having more zero's than myself?
               I offer this.  Take a moment a review your life.  Find that which you moves your life forward.  Consider how you contribute to yourself, your family, the community in which you live, and the society you participate in.  Mostly, I wish you to be thoughtful of  your actions and attitudes towards all people in the market place.  Never try to count another one's money or take stock of their possessions, for their endeavors are not yours.  Be aware of that which guides you and buy the junk and stuff you want for the needs you have.  See you soon and take care.