Hi all!
We are all bombarded by ads all the time. For everything you could ever possibly need or want. Even products and services you haven't thought of wanting yet!
The way to more happiness is more choice and liberty, supposedly. It makes sense, right? The more choices we are offered, the better we can accommodate for our unique selves. We all know more choice is supposed to make us happier, but does it? Personally, I get overwhelmed with choice. When I get into such a mindset I tend to make no choice at all (which is a choice, and not a very good one at that).
Why then, are we bombarded with more and more personalised ads? We cannot have it all, and why should we want it all? People can go out and purchase mounds of different clothes, an inordinate amount of serving platters, or every video game they wish for. But we cannot buy all the clothes, we cannot (and most likely do not) buy ALL the serving platters and there are only so many games one can play.
How do we choose? What comes down to making a choice the correct one? Marie Kondo would say 'it sparks joy', advertisers would say 'just buy it all' but these opinions don't really matter in the end. Only yours does.
I refuse to be a mindless consumer in today's world. I already have enough junk! Think of all the materials, labor, and resources used to make that brand new phone one must have, or the latest portable sound system. This is not even mentioning the strain all this industrial production and consumption has on our environments.
Fig.1: Landfill in West Africa. An estimated 60% of this landfill consists of 'fast fashion', donated clothing, and other textiles from richer countries.
So, now that we have expounded the detriments regarding cheap, low-quality consumption and production, what can be done? I think we all have a personal responsibility to choose carefully. We find ourselves as a species, for the first time, in the peculiar position of having too much. As we all know, too much of anything is not a good thing.
So, before you buy that brand new purse or electronic, Ask yourself this:
- Do I want this?
- Will I use this?
- What purpose does this serve me?
- Is there a better, more sustainable option?
- What will I do with this after I am done with it?
and finally, most importantly:
- Will this bring me Joy? ;)
^ Just a minor flex , all of these questions are easily answered with the usage of beeswax candles. The jars can be reused or even repoured after you are finished and our Melbourne Candles are the best, most sustainable on the market.
Thanks for reading all.
Let us know in the comments if you enjoyed this blog, we may start making some more.
Signing off,
The Hive
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