I have been thinking a lot in the past few weeks about today’s wasteful culture and the idea of having more. And more. AND MORE!!
Recent events have forced me to witness so much waste it’s almost heart breaking. I will never understand throwing away perfectly good food just because people get fussy about eating the same dish for two days in a row for dinner or leaving lights and appliances on throughout the house even if they’re not at home or gather in just one room. Or not putting the scraps of paper or cardboard or empty plastic bottles in the recycling bin because they ‘can’t be bothered’.
So I’ve pondered on this for days and days. What makes today’s society so wasteful? Is it the fact that the media keeps pushing us to buy, consume and own more? Is it because we have too much, don’t share our blessings and simply throw away? Is it because we’re so out of touch with the Earth that we simply don’t care and don’t give it a second thought? Maybe it’s all these combined and more that I can’t even think of.
I took an introspective journey to look at my own behaviour throughout the years and realized that when I had less money to spend I was actually richer. Being forced to make meal plans lead to wiser grocery shopping and maximizing all produce. The rising costs of electricity made me look around the house twice before leaving and made sure I left all appliances off and unplugged. Being in these situations a few times in my life taught me to do the same, regardless of income.
When you have less to spend you focus on using everything you already have and you have more than you realize. One day when you have the time look around the house. Even if it’s just in your wardrobe. How many times did you say something like ‘ Argh! I have nothing to wear!’ and bought a piece or two of clothing – perhaps even with your credit card, leading you to debt? I dare you, look into your wardrobe and be honest: how many things have you worn just one time or twice? Still think you have nothing to wear?
How many CDs or DVDs do you have that you actually never listen to or watch but you’re still buying new ones, even if their fate is the same – sitting on a shelf or in a box gathering dust, in the hopes ‘you’ll watch them one day’?
Or how many books are there gathering dust on your shelves because you keep thinking ‘I’ll read that again one day!’
Having more does not necessarily mean enjoying more. On the contrary, from my experience it leads to … clutter. And clutter leads to so many negative things – less space, less use of things and even depression. Why walk that path?
Do yourself a favour and do a good ‘spring cleaning’ even if it’s the middle of October. I’m sure you can do a massive de-clutter and even donate a few things to a charity shop – you know, those things you piled up in a drawer but never actually use but someone else less fortunate than you might consider a blessing to have and use.
And by the way, last year’s Halloween and Christmas decorations are still good this year 
