Material Possessions

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I was born in February 1979, I come from a different time, a time spent playing outside on my BMX, reading Enid Blyton and The Folk of The Faraway Tree, I rarely ever watched TV or saw a magazine,  I remember as a child that skipping along to the bank clutching some money from a birthday to open an account was normal. 

I remember cassette tapes, my first job was aged 14 in a small community pharmacy, I remember leaving University to work full time in Our Price and believing I was living the dream sorting the Top 10 VHS Chart on a Friday. 


I learnt the value of money from a young age, I understood money was a finite entity.  I learnt to not spend beyond my means and to save up for things I wanted. 


I am approaching 40 (February 9th 2019), life is different, this isn't just because I am older.  I live in an age of affluenza and disposable income, an age of credit and not having so save for something. Everything feels replaceable, immediately. Advertisements are everywhere, celebrities this and that, self help, mindfulness and if you buy now you can save 25%.  


Part of me if stuck in the 90s, I even listen to Absolute 90s, it is my happy place.  


Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, podcasts, emails, texts, old fashioned junk mail, even if I could construct an impenetrable bubble, it’d be pointless.  I would be found.  Internet cookies - bane of my life! Remembering everything I look at, if the Internet tempts me with its 24/365  I can just unlock my ever-ready smartphone and make decisions to anything whenever I want.

How does any of this make my life better? The constant grab for my attention, a form of subconscious brainwashing.  You believe or are led to believe you need this new washing machine that you can add a bloody sock to, this new massive TV, this new sound bar or designer kitchen.  Suddenly you are down a rabbit hole of material possessions that you didn't realize you needed and become sucked into needing.  


Decisions, choices, time, energy and money...


Possessed by possessions.... 


People become filled with a constant compulsion to fill up their lives, to make everything perfect, you only have to listen to the Ward Thomas song 'Lie like me'.  Pressure and choices.


Who would we be without the latest smartphone, soundbar or drone. Would we be happy and free? 


I think it's about slowly regaining power, shifting mindsets.  Becoming more aware of rabbit holes.  Nothing will happen to me if I do not have this washing machine that I can add a sock too... 


Everyday, I am trying to remind myself that almost everything material is optional.

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