We live in a world that is obsessed.
We are obsessed with the constant need of material items: the newest iPhone, clothes from our favorite retailer or the newest Yeezy’s. We are under constant advertisement ploys to convince us that if we could just have more “stuff,” or that newest thing, we can be happier than we were before.
The average American citizen is subjected to hundreds of advertisements every single day, and I bet if a recent Spotify ad came on you could recite every word. Well, this constant societal presence in advertisement is negatively impacting students and members of the community alike.
A common misconception portrayed by these ads is that happiness is achievable through the purchasing of all these things, but I am a firm believer in the phrase “the best things in life come free.” We spend far too much time craving material things, and it can take away from us enjoying life fully. Additionally, it creates a subconscious competition between people, and we are all trying to keep up with one another in a race to have the coolest “stuff.”
The fact of the matter is that this can be exhausting. There are massive problems in the world today, many of which receive far less attention than they should, and instead of advocating to make our country better, or even enjoying what life has to offer. We spend hours online shopping for a pair of shoes that will likely end up in the back of your closet after they go out of season. That’s erratic and the longer we thirst for all the things it only continues to get worse.
I’m not saying that shopping or wanting nice things is horrible. In fact, shopping is one of my favorite things to do, and I spent 13 to 16 hours every Black Friday doing just that. There is nothing wrong with enjoying the finer things in life. It’s when it starts to consume our daily life and enjoyment of regular experiences that is the problem.
Constantly chasing to keep up and spending dollars and dollars of our already tight bank accounts just to get something that so-and-so has will never bring true happiness, it will only result in the craving of more stuff. It is much more rewarding to give thanks for the little things, and remove yourself from the chaos and crazy to remember how truly blessed we are.
Here’s my challenge for each of you. Take time, deliberate time, to step back and be thankful in the moment we are in now. Stifle the urge to buy new things and fill your closet with more. As college students, we are the most subject to advertising and pressure to buy, buy, buy. But there are amazing things waiting for you if you close out of your online shopping tabs. Be content with where you are, and do not let the thirst for new things and more stuff take over your gratitude for the free things in life.
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