Comments on: Just stop

By: thisthriftedlife

thisthriftedlife — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:37:45 +0000

Kate: exactly! We’ve let our ourselves become conditioned to think there is only one path through this life: the conventional one of overworking and then overspending to give ourselves a break. It seems most of us are not paying attention to if that spending and playing is really satisfying us.

By: Kate

Kate — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:47:45 +0000

I think most people would be so much happier if they got off the work-watch-spend treadmill. There is so much more to life – so many possibilities.

By: thisthriftedlife

thisthriftedlife — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:57:02 +0000

Selena, all the boredom fascinates me as well. I am so rarely bored. If there’s really nothing useful to do (baking, yard work, etc), I can always find a book to read or something of the sort or some writing to do.

Golightly, good point about the merchants now telling the customers what they want! We have handed over an immense amount of power to corporations, advertisers, etc.

Cate, mm, now I want a soft pretzel!

By: Cate

Cate — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:27:15 +0000

The whole “work so you can buy more stuff so you can go back to work to pay for it all” cycle is terrifying. We went to the mall last night to pick up a gift card for my sister for Christmas (and indulge in soft pretzels, yum!), and I was really startled when I found myself literally repulsed by the whole atmosphere.

By: Shopping Golightly

Shopping Golightly — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:28:14 +0000

My sentiments too. I do my best to build my own consumer culture. No cable TV, no catalogs or if they arrive, I immediately recycle them. I used to think that catalogs could give me ideas. All they gave me was want. I like to develop my own style. I have squared shoes and pointed shoes – they weather whatever fashion storm is blowing over. I carefully pick what media sources I listen too.

I thrift. Like crazy. Ironically people think I’m applying conspicuous consumption to thrift. I’m not. I might buy out something new or nice my daughters will need in a year for a few bucks at the thrift store.

When you step outside America’s consumer culture you see how insane it’s become. In the last hundred years the consumer lost the ability to tell the merchants what they need. Now it’s the reverse. Weird.

By: Selena

Selena — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:30:02 +0000

I’ve been thinking about this recently too. Mostly since I have started on with Facebook. So many people often comment how bored they are. This is something I can’t even fathom. As you said life is full of possibilities everywhere. How can an adult truly be bored? Maybe it is our western culture that has shaped these people into thinking that moments of silence lead to boredom rather than contemplation of things. And that they must buy, buy, buy to fill that void. Great post.