If you are someone who has had a shift in perspective than, you have learned to make choices more aware of the power you yield or, give away to some groups. For example, not eating meat is about so much more than ethics but, we don’t all spell it out…many of us have noticed how much and how quickly money comes in and goes out to someone else. You think your money isn’t enough to make a difference? I’d say, start thinking in terms of the collective. Think about your money (and power) times the population. Who have we made wealthy? Do they deserve what we give to them?
We have all seen these headlines many times. Maybe we have even become desensitized to being sold junk. We know so many of our big purchases are a kind of gamble. On some level, we have to weigh our options. This is why I watch myself and try to stay aware of how I function. None of us should get caught up in the materials nor, the jobs we invest so much of our lives into.
Driving a Ford or an Audi or some electric car doesn’t matter. I knew someone who used to work for a car company. He said that cars always roll out of production with very low stats for everything to run smoothly. He said, vehicles already have too many components and people want more with every new model.
Don’t we all kind of know this, on some level. Still, I write this because vehicles are still a status symbol. Maybe we should reevaluate the amount we spend on everything from cars to homes to clothes. Sometimes, I wonder if the amount we spend says more about how much we believe in the illusions we are sold…
Someone told me, “Brand names have the good reputation for a reason. They are better because they have had the time to improve.” Maybe. But, that’s not always the case. There is more to it. Brand names can be made with good emotional appeal, or appeal to a niche. I have even seen campaigns create appeal or a need for products no one needed or cared about prior. I’m sure you can think about many products people buy but, don’t really need. I bet you even know of brand names that aren’t that great.
And remember, in this materialistic world, how you spend your money always gives support to someone. We all support one group or another. Who do you support? Yup, I have to face this for myself too…Who do I support and their practices…
Do you ever think about how something was produced? Sometimes, materials are taken, mined, manufactured in/from other countries- do you ever think about any of that? What about the waste that is created, like with packaging (multiplied by your idea of the buying population, multiplied by whatever length of time you choose…just to get some idea…) This planet contains a lot of our waste. Sorry, I did get side tracked…
It’s a lot to think about…but when do we start thinking about it? What is behind your spending habits? Do you ever buy anything based on emotions? How do you decide what is the best product? Does everything have to be new or a brand name?
No, it isn’t about you taking on everything. You can’t. You are just one person. I know that I can choose one thing to change, in my life. Then, maybe I can choose another thing to change…eventually those changes can be multiplied by a percentage of the population. That is powerful and it matters.
For some of us, we can reevaluate the way we feel about certain brands or certain items…
So what’s my point?
Take time off. Buy the better used car. Take life less seriously. Don’t worry about buying a house someday. Don’t be sold junk. So much of it just doesn’t matter. Let’s not wage more war in the name of protecting our ability to purchase more of this junk. Some of this junk kills us.
Live. Love.
Be happy. You know how hard that is to do on this planet? Being happy is one of the hardest things for people to figure out. Spend your life making that the practice.