peace tip #22

PEACE TIP #22
Denounce consumerism.





A bad economy is an environmentalist's and a pacifist's dream come true. People are buying less and manufacturing is on the decline. With optimistic reasoning, war isn't so likely to be waged in defense or claim of resources.

In July, Mrs. Boehler, co-owner of Hotel Boehler and partner to Mr. Boehler, spoke of Americans like consumerism was their national religion. She told me that many of her guests from the United States were awestruck to find that all shops in Boeblingen were closed on Sundays.

"It's the day you go to church and spend time with family!" she exclaimed. Justin and I spent our weekend day of rest together under the sun, soaking its rays into our skin. At that time and even now, basking was far more fulfilling than acquiring.

I remember receiving my first paycheck after being hired at a restaurant as a happy-come-lucky 16 year-old. I spent most of it on several pairs of shoes bought at a discount store. I then proudly took a picture of my mountain of footwear.

A guess is that self-expression is what compelled me into follow-up excursions to the mall. That and the freedom from responsibility and any meaningful art form or hobby likely brought about the contents of the boxes and boxes of clothing, DVDs, CDs, books, and trinkets packed away and the houses of my parents.

The prognosis of prodigaphobia* and the global perspective upper-level education provided have brought shame for my collection, which will be willfully lessened later this month. Where will the STUFF go? Into the hands of another proud owner who may take a picture of the loot? Perhaps not, but that destiny for inanimate objects seems like a better alternative than toxic disintegration. My only other hope is that some sisterly or brotherly or (un)friendly pair will not dispute over whose is whose is whose shoes for whose as my sibling and I once did.

We are older now and maybe even wiser, right sunshine?

Mr. Sparkles is a minimalist, so clutter on the counter is shoved out of mind, out of sight. "Sometimes I feel smothered by things," he says before I smile.

*fear of waste