Consumerism.
We have what everyone desires,
for a price.
Just look what you can get.
You can buy this or that,
or anything you want.
Anything you see!
Isn't that marvellous?
You can even buy things you can't see,
like a lifestyle,
happiness,
or a sense of well-being.
But best of all,
you can buy the admiration
of friends, family,
neighbours and coworkers.
They will envy
your stereo,
your car,
your clothes,
your house,
or anything else you own that they want.
Consumerism.
What we are really selling
is envy.
Get some today.
Hey there,
ReplyDeleteJust stumbled upon your post and wow, it really made me think. I mean, we all get a bit green-eyed sometimes, right? But what if we flipped the script and used that envy as a kick in the pants to go after what we want? That's what I'm trying to do more of these days.
Cheers for the brain food!
Best,
Maria Positiva
As long as what you want is what you need, ok.
Delete- Gregg
One thing I have been contending with is “buying a feeling of safety. I’m a long time reader and commenter (under the name anon:-)). Anyways, I’m Palestinian American with a lot of family in refugee camps and the last 6 months have sent me into a tailspin of feeling insecure at a deeply primal level. Our family has experienced death and folks are very hungry there. In response, I turn inward then start thinking- should I buy life straws for my family so we can always get clean water?…or should I pre pack a bag with important docs and thus need some new container or backpack to carry it all? I have a backpack already and frankly, if things get bad enough that I can’t get clean water- I doubt my lifestraw would be accessible too. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteI won’t lie and say I have said no to buying needless stuff (my husband often just says, whatever makes you feel better) but I am self aware enough to realize I am trying to buy a sense of safety and autonomy in a really difficult world for people with my identity. Sigh.
It is hard to imagine what you, your family, and your people are going through right now. Normalizing genocide is a disturbing trend, to say the least. I wish I knew how to stop it.
DeleteWe have been let down terribly by those in power that allow the continuation of such rank inhumanity and evil, and do things to make it thrive and spread.
It is important to be prepared. Having supplies and a plan does provide some comfort in an increasingly insecure world.
Let's hope that those in charge gain some sanity soon, and cause peace to break out all over the planet. Wouldn't that be wonderful?
Take care. We love you.
- Gregg
I'm a terrible person to buy for. I don't want anything. Or, at least the things I want can't be bought at a store. No envy here, no FOMO. Just a good contented everyday dose of GIMO lol :) Can you imagine how different our world would be if people just wanted what they truly needed and things we 'needed' were built to actually last?
ReplyDeleteIn today's world what you imagine is revolutionary thinking. We need more of it, thank you very much. And we can create such a beautiful existence!
DeleteTogether we will build a parallel system that is exactly as you described, and leave the wasteful, corrupted mainstream system behind, only to whither away from our voluntary non-participation. The sooner we start on this project, the better it will be for all of us.
Let's do it, each small community of creators beginning where we are at, with what we have got. A better, more peaceful world awaits.
- Gregg