The gifting season is here, gaining speed like Casey Jones and that runaway train, on the wrong track and headed for you. So put down the cocaine and lets have a civilized discussion about this.
JP sent NYM a link to The Story of Stuff. I've sent it out to some people. It is definitely worth the 20+ minutes of your life. But for the time-challenged, here's the gist: We have been trained to consume, almost at all costs. This consumption-to-trash lifestyle is damaging the planet and people, including ourselves. Solution: Buy less, consume less.
So where does that leave us during this time of giving? Give less? Give nothing? Become Scrooge? This is the quandry I find myself in as I tool through Borders, judging whether items are worthy of the people I love. Do we really need more stuff? And why do we depend on stuff to say "I care about you"? Or to make us feel better? How do we break this hold stuff has on us?
One thing is for sure, we can't do it alone. It has to be a decision supported by those near and dear to us. It has to be OK to say "Let's not consume more stuff." A coworker of mine suggested a step-by-step program, such as starting by giving only handmade gifts. I think this sounds swell and I wish I had thought of it earlier. Oh well. There's always next year!
Until next time, wishing you the gift of joy. And sanity.
No comments:
Post a Comment