I’m almost never happy with anything I buy unless it’s a book or a CD or movie. I feel the same way. The worst thing is when people go and buy a designer purse every month. What a waste!
You can not find true happiness via outside sources. True a new car might make you happy, but what if it gets stolen? Where does that happiness go? The truest source of happiness comes from within, so seek it there, and do not rely on things or people to do it for you.
I’m not doing that, my post was actually about how it’s impossible for me to do that. What I am trying to say is that it’s a mistake and a problem for everyone that consumerism has gotten so out of control.
I agree, totally, I wasn’t attacking anyone. When I say “you” I mean all of you, and me too.
But more to the point, how do we change a global consciousness? People will kill over material possessions, how do we stop allowing these things to happen? Why get married without that gold ring? why not plant a tree instead? Why shoot someone for the oil? Why not feed them instead? Why play a video game when you can play outside?
And really the problem is not just consumerism. It is materialism. People are always wanting more and fear the loss of what they have. Loss of property, and loss of loved ones. If we seek inner happiness, nothing outside ourselves can defeat that.
I agree completely. And was gonna call this ‘materialism’ but it sounded too philosophical :-D
Yep the question is how we can change this. I’m pretty sure that there’s a good reason WHY we should change it already. To name but one I think some of the most common modern illnesses like depression and such come in part because of this. But I don’t see any clear way of changing people’s minds. The only thing that comes to mind is forming some kind of new religion or something that would worship simplicity (maybe nature, clouds or something) but I’m not up for that today and it sounds stupid.
It’s impossible because this kind of change would have to affect the entire world. Meanwhile people have no money to buy food or clothes in some areas, while others waste it on ‘designers’ purses every month’ like Linda O said.
I have wanted to try this for about 3 years, but I hadn’t yet, and I am not sure why. But there is a group, it is not a religious group, but it is spiritual.
ReCreation is an organization who focuses on getting people back to themselves. They tackle very delicate issues, such as this, and our educational systems. It would be well worth your time to investigate and research them.
It is a very noble cause, and we can make a difference, by shedding some light on the zombies that go day to day without thinking of what their actions create.
I am thinking about volunteering for ReCreations and there are probably more groups out there which do the same thing. I am unsure, because I am still playing with the whole inner happiness thing, I am very fond of.
Ehh… I’m from Europe. I doubt we have something like this in my little country. Maybe I should start something like that… but first there’d have to be at least two of us.
ReCreations is a global thing, I am sure. It is getting a good response in America. From what I hear, Europe is way ahead of us on free thinking. Am I wrong about this?
It must be a sign of the times. After becoming terminally ill 5yrs ago I closed my photography business and laid off my employees. Two years later I began to sell and clean out the studio…….I was and still amazed at the shear volume of “stuff” I bought over the years. I am still trying to get the last of it since I am selling the building. I decided to do the same thing with my home two years ago……….. 3 Yard Sales, 1 Garage sale and 2 months of Ebay(I don’t recommend) and I have Barely made a dent. I am also selling my house to build a much smaller one, 15 rooms 3 baths and a 5 car garage is truly too much for myself and my young son! I have yet to even start with one of two cellars and the closets!! I realized during one yard sale that I was selling BRAND NEW items, NEVER opened!!!! Talk about being stupid…..:) I’m right up there, although my illness is partly to blame since I forget alot….
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You can not get any more simple than a white flowing garment and sandals………does that ring any bells…………heres a hint the big J_ _ _ _
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Rings too many bells… too bad you’ve been deactivated. Now I’ll never know :cries in a dark corner:
What you said is great. I agree whole-heartedly. I’ve recently graduated from college and i’m looking for work and I’ve suddenly realized that i don’t care how much money I’m going to make. The whole reason I went to college was to make more money, but now that doesn’t matter. I don’t ever want to buy anything cuz it always just sits around. I just want to spend time with people who make me smile, nothing else. I know what you mean about having a room with nothing in it but a bed and a low table, which I visited Japan that’s how my homestay was: simple. Nothing was just there unnecessarily. I ended up writing a 10 page paper on how simple, clean, and efficient the Japanese people were. I would just die to go back to that place, just to not have to worry about anything but living alive.
Yeah, Japanese rooms kind of inspired my post. :-) I’d love to read that paper of yours if it’s not too awkward…
Ever wanna just go live in the wild? That would be serine.
Yes, that too though I doubt I’d be able to. I’m too used to civilization. Where would I get food? I’d like to have a house in the middle of wilderness though. It doesn’t need to be a big house. Just away from the cities. Maybe one day.
Well, shelter and food are not the biggest obsticles ( I am pretty sure I can handle those two). I live out in forested mountains, relativly low pollution levels, and I would still be hard pressed to find a good source of clean water.
I’ve been struck by this idea a few times over the years. I have so much crap and I keep trying to simplify more and more each year, but I am still overflowing with junk. My parents are huge packrats, and raised me to be one too. I have definitely gotten better, but still have lots of work to do. I found something recently that was quite interesting…it kinda fits in this conversation. You can’t have tons of stuff when you have a tiny house…
http://www.resourcesforlife.com/group…
We have been going through our stuff lately as well and taking the unused stuff to goodwill and salvation army thriftstores. It is amazing how some of this useless stuff is still important to us. We packrat because we can’t let it go, but feel a lot better when we finally clean things out.
Crestfallen is right about the small house - unless of course you have a garage!!
It can be a tiny, tiny garage… like for a skateboard or sth.
I’m talking silly now. It’s late here.
I remembered something that used to frighten me when I was a little kid. We used to ask each other what we would save if our house was on fire. That was a terrible question. I couldn’t decide between all my toys. Today I’d probably just get my laptop and cell-phone and CD-box. Though it would be a little harder with all my books. But all that other crap wouldn’t be missed, I guess…
I would save one (or two, if they were close to each other) sketch book(s), a handfull of pencils, and my knife. Everything else can burn. (yeah, even the cats, I know its horrible to say, but if they are too stupid to run outside when the house is on fire, I am not going to chase them around)
Bwahhahaha… luckily I have no pets to worry about. Only spiders and flies.
I definatly wouldn’t save vermin. There are too many of them as is. (too many humans too, but I wont go into that.)
Kanna if we had a fire in our house I’ld make sure the family was safe, grab the Cat and run!!
My room is basically empty, i cant stand electrical stuff in my room so i just have a tree instead lol. It seems to make me less stressed if I dont see things that remind me of stuff i have to do.
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