Out of Chaos an organizing newsletter
Is Stuff the New Religion?
I remember my mother explaining Marx’s famous “religion is the opiate of the masses” quote to me when I was young. She explained that while religion could be a comfort, that very comfort might stop people from standing up and demanding true change.
Sounds familiar, but nowadays, I think it’s stuff, not religion, that provides us with comfort and keeps us complacent.
I understand why people buy $200 sneakers for their kids, because, really, how far is $200 going to go toward $50,000 a year in tuition or a $500,000 apartment? You might as well rock their world with the shoes, because you aren’t ever going to own that apartment.
Recently, I worked with a client whose tiny apartment was bursting with stuff she’d bought. I wondered if her shopping was a form of comfort, or consolation. Was she thinking, “Well, I can’t have a bigger apartment, like my friend, but I can have this sweater, or these napkins, or this face cream,”? I get it, but retail therapy is short-lived.
People are working jobs they hate so that they can keep their health insurance. They are shelling out for expensive test prep in hopes of helping their kids score a spot in a great public school or win a college scholarship. It should make us mad. But hey, look on the bright side: You can spend $1,000 at West Elm and redo your entire apartment, and you can get a “haul” from Aéropostale for the cost of lunch. I am not so easily bought off.
I want high-quality, affordable education, health care and housing. I won’t be lulled into complacency by cute, affordable fashion or trendy, throw-away home furnishings.
So here is my challenge to you in 2018: Every time you are tempted to buy something cheap, something you don’t need, something that is probably made in China, resist. Ask yourself: What am I looking for from this purchase? Is it the adrenaline rush of the “hunt” or the comfort of feathering your nest? Are you alleviating anxiety by focusing on your décor or controlling what is controllable by having up-to-the minute fashion?
I’m not suggesting revolution (though maybe I should), I just think that writing your congressperson, donating to charity and volunteering can alleviate anxiety and give you a feeling of fulfillment, without causing any clutter or debt.
Every time you resist, post the item you didn’t buy with #Resist on my twitter feed and maybe we can change the world and our closets at the same time.