Between fair and equal...

I wonder if it's human nature to want what you can not have. We all know people that only desire what someone else has. They are never content with the abundance that they have in their very own lives. It's tragic really. Today, a few co-workers and I were discussing the difference between "fair" and "equal". Equal is measureable. I get one, you get one. We split it 50-50. We both share the load. We both get the same. However, what if our genders are different. Do we both really want floral perfume? What if we have different tastes? Maybe, you really don't want half of my steak because you are a vegetarian.

So if you like s'mores and all their gooey chocolatey wonder, then enjoy them. But if you (shudder) don't like chocolate then in order to be equal, too bad, have it anyway. Equal assumes that we all have the very same preferences for the type of things we like to eat, the activities we enjoy, the people we want to associate with. If spending time with your family is similar to a dental visit or removing your toenails one at a time and you do really enjoy lunch with friends then what is a fair way to spend your time? Splitting your time equally between things you like and things you don't would be equal, but not necessarily fair.

Fair is about having most of your needs met most of the time. Fair is recognizing when you have things pretty good. It's a really good place to be. It's the place where you should shout "stop" and be happy. Someone else may have more than you but if you have everything that you need to be content and happy, then quit looking around. What someone else has is really none of your business if what you have works for you. Eat your s'more any ol' way you want. Maybe, you should peel back the cracker and eat the marshmallow first. So if you don't like raisins in your snack mix, don't just take 4 because everyone else did. Leave the raisins for those that love them and have peanuts instead.