“Our consumption of stuff also continuously feeds the bottom line of the handful of major corporations that sell the vast majority of things we buy.” This. And their ads are directly targeting us. This is what I tell myself when I want to impulse buy something or just one-click order. It’s designed with infinite growth and infinite profit in mind, on our very finite planet. Joining you in SLOWING the F DOWN. 🍻
You know that I absolutely could not agree more! We have been minimalists for years - since clearing out Shane's grandparents house 15ish years ago. We were poor so buying stuff was something we didnt want to spend our money on. We wanted experiences! Today, we are still the same but trying to raise children who feel the same way is HARD....they have far more screentime than when they were young (now 16 and 19) and we can make other people, even our own children, feel the way we feel. I run a book club at my work with the book "How to Break Up with your Phone." I have 40+ people join each time I do it and it is heartbreaking to hear how little discipline ADULTS have over their ability to not be consumed with their phones. Everyone is just numbing themselves and until more and more people wake up and realize this is not the life they want to live - this will continue. I have always been an upstream swimming and I will continue to go against what is "normal". I am grateful that for now that means I do not stare endlessly at my phone while everyone I love sits around and does the same thing. Someday maybe we will have laws that protect children (and adults) from the dangers of technology, but for now I just lead by example and make eye contact and smile at the few other people out there not walking around staring at a screen. big hugs and love to you and your family.
Preach! Yes yes yes to allllllll this. Oh my goodness, so much yes.
Thank you Kelsey. Wish we could go on a slow walk around your pretty island!
“Our consumption of stuff also continuously feeds the bottom line of the handful of major corporations that sell the vast majority of things we buy.” This. And their ads are directly targeting us. This is what I tell myself when I want to impulse buy something or just one-click order. It’s designed with infinite growth and infinite profit in mind, on our very finite planet. Joining you in SLOWING the F DOWN. 🍻
The targeting is brutal. Ads, sponsored posts, pop-ups on websites... it's never ending and soul-sucking! Glad we are on this ride together, Lindsey!
You know that I absolutely could not agree more! We have been minimalists for years - since clearing out Shane's grandparents house 15ish years ago. We were poor so buying stuff was something we didnt want to spend our money on. We wanted experiences! Today, we are still the same but trying to raise children who feel the same way is HARD....they have far more screentime than when they were young (now 16 and 19) and we can make other people, even our own children, feel the way we feel. I run a book club at my work with the book "How to Break Up with your Phone." I have 40+ people join each time I do it and it is heartbreaking to hear how little discipline ADULTS have over their ability to not be consumed with their phones. Everyone is just numbing themselves and until more and more people wake up and realize this is not the life they want to live - this will continue. I have always been an upstream swimming and I will continue to go against what is "normal". I am grateful that for now that means I do not stare endlessly at my phone while everyone I love sits around and does the same thing. Someday maybe we will have laws that protect children (and adults) from the dangers of technology, but for now I just lead by example and make eye contact and smile at the few other people out there not walking around staring at a screen. big hugs and love to you and your family.
Oh Jenny, I love reading your words about this. You are so inspiring to me! XOXO