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Practical vs. Materialist Pt. 2 — The Practical — Choosing to Downsize
Materialism is a Cultural Demon
The goal of this three-part essay is to encourage, not to make anyone owning a large home and/or large collections feel like a bad person. Those who shame others are the problem, it doesn’t help. In fact, for most it reinforces the inclination to continue buying and accumulating. A “fuck you”, to the angry so called environmentally enlightened lot. If you are one of those with knowledge reading this, try sharing ways to move toward living with less, it will be more effective than raging about other’s habits.
The objective is to reconsider why some much stuff is necessary. Brevity, it isn’t. It’s a complex global issue. Small steps are the smartest way to move forward. A wholly different subject is industrial waste, not discussed here. This is about personal, individual solutions. The social competition is fierce. Having more, bigger (with tech, smaller), better, faster is about status. Status is a driver emotionally. It is also a way to attract a mate.
The same can be said in our modern era, less is equally attractive. A diverging society is nothing new. The gap is more apparent because instant messaging, social media posts and instant news distorts the divide. A challenge, for you the reader. Scroll through your social media feeds. You will…
