Start by publicly blowing raspberries

Mainstream American consumers are cultivated purchase items en masse. We even purchase “bargains” en masse. Lost in the world of retail sales, shoppers forget they will not be using the item they acquire 75% off original price. It becomes a pointless act of acquisition and often begets suffering, especially in the realm of debt. Retail therapy might have a short-term rush, particularly when a sale is involved, but in the long haul its consumer hooey.

Thrift store gurus have taken a giant a step closer to contentment. Enlightened shoppers do not purchase bargains. They purchase needs and honest wants at prices that work to their personal best interest. This is nearly spiritual and I see this only in thrift stores where there are no studies conducted to boost sales via types music, scents, product display placement, etc. Most thrift participants will stop and do a once over on the contents of their carts before check out. A few items will likely go back to the shelves.

A thrift guru develops a knowing of how often an item pops up in stores. I contently pass on purchasing the cashmere sweater with original retail tags of $200 still dangling for $4.99 if I am on the fence. No regrets. Cashmere sweaters cycle through thrift stores like water through a wheel.

Yes, we all fall from time to time.

Best to tend to needs and take the time to learn wants, not be told what they are. Our current culture has done a splendid job of making dictated and trendy wants take priority over needs. Now most Americans are in terrible economic, mental and physical states of existence. Don't even get me started on what this is doing to the health of our planet. Think about it.

Wow, this post is becoming very lose and stream of consciousness. Okay, must be a reason.

Want to tend to needs first? Start by, pledging to disregard commercials and glossy advertisements. Marketers no longer bother selling products. Be assured, they’re selling wants. Create the want and the product will follow. I predict there will be commercials for commercials. Wait. Who am I fooling? That’s probably already happened. Yes, we’re that messed up.

I’d be so honored if just ten readers would stand in front of an advertisement in a subway station, on the sidewalk, anywhere in public and spend five seconds blowing raspberries at it. Please report in via comments at what and where you blew that raspberry.

Would you join in a pledge to cover your ears and blow raspberries at commercials? It’d be a great family tactic. Add humor. Blow off some steam. Get a better check on reality. Raspberries are good for us.

I sound very immature by asking this. Am I? Sometimes silly ridiculous actions are required to break silly, ridiculous binds.