When I was 20, I was a serial shopaholic. I loved shoes, bags, clothes, jewellery, coats, creams, potions and STUFF... I bought things and felt good. I didn't really think about it. I thought I needed lots of things and I just liked shopping.
I was also in serious debt.
As I evolved through my 20's, I transformed into an anti-consumer. I made up for my old ways by being the extreme opposite.
Today, I am at peace. I buy what I need, which is very little. And when I do, I am conscious about where it has come from, how long it will last and the benefit it will have to my life. I buy second-hand, I reuse, I upcycle, I make, I mend.
I am no saint. I am human after all, but I take responsibility for my actions because those actions have a direct impact on the planet I live on and the other living things on it. I am still paying off my debts.
I know you're busy trying to make a living, enjoying your friends and family, but I recommend you read this article. Especially with Christmas just over a month away....a traditional time for mass consumerism. A new perspective for some of you or a reinforcement for others.
"A better solution to key current economic challenges such as the need to generate ample, good-quality jobs - and a way of making daily goods and services that escapes the consumer debt-trap."
Thank you Andrew Simms and Ruth Potts for creating.
I was also in serious debt.
As I evolved through my 20's, I transformed into an anti-consumer. I made up for my old ways by being the extreme opposite.
Today, I am at peace. I buy what I need, which is very little. And when I do, I am conscious about where it has come from, how long it will last and the benefit it will have to my life. I buy second-hand, I reuse, I upcycle, I make, I mend.
I am no saint. I am human after all, but I take responsibility for my actions because those actions have a direct impact on the planet I live on and the other living things on it. I am still paying off my debts.
I know you're busy trying to make a living, enjoying your friends and family, but I recommend you read this article. Especially with Christmas just over a month away....a traditional time for mass consumerism. A new perspective for some of you or a reinforcement for others.
"A better solution to key current economic challenges such as the need to generate ample, good-quality jobs - and a way of making daily goods and services that escapes the consumer debt-trap."
Thank you Andrew Simms and Ruth Potts for creating.
| new_materialism_24_11_12.pdf |
manifesto for the new materialism
1. Liking ‘stuff’ is okay, healthy even – we can learn to love and find pleasure in the material world
2. Wherever practical and possible develop lasting relationships with things by having and making nothing that is designed to last less than 10 years
3. Get to know things - before you acquire something, find out at least 3 things about it
4. Love stuff - mend, maintain and re-use things until it is no longer possible, then recycle them
5. Get active - only acquire something new if you are also learning a new, useful skill
6. Share - look at all your things, think about what your friends might need or could benefit from, and share at least one thing a week
http://www.neweconomics.org/
http://breadprintandroses.org/
http://www.schumachercollege.org.uk/
1. Liking ‘stuff’ is okay, healthy even – we can learn to love and find pleasure in the material world
2. Wherever practical and possible develop lasting relationships with things by having and making nothing that is designed to last less than 10 years
3. Get to know things - before you acquire something, find out at least 3 things about it
4. Love stuff - mend, maintain and re-use things until it is no longer possible, then recycle them
5. Get active - only acquire something new if you are also learning a new, useful skill
6. Share - look at all your things, think about what your friends might need or could benefit from, and share at least one thing a week
http://www.neweconomics.org/
http://breadprintandroses.org/
http://www.schumachercollege.org.uk/
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