Do I really need this?

Here’s a shocking statistic:

Only 1% of EVERYTHING WE BUY is still in use six months after we buy it.

ONE.  PERCENT.

Okay, I know this video’s kind of a doozy, but it’s worth watching, I promise.  Scouts’ honor.

The point is: we’re buying things we don’t need.  And it especially effects us as women.  Flip through an issue of Cosmo and you’ll find more ads than articles.  A barrage of colorful images from every angle convincing us that we need this hand bag, this scarf, this skirt to make us happy.  And when it doesn’t, or when it becomes “obsolete”, we turn around buy a new one.  We’re creating a never-ending demand for stuff we don’t need, stuff that will end up in landfills and polluting the environment.  And, like the video says, it’s a problem that our government will never address because, let’s face it: consumerism is good for the economy.

But there is good news!  You can stop at any time.  Be aware of what you are consuming.  Don’t buy things you don’t need.  Make Mercy House Thrift Store your new favorite hang out.  And keep reading ShoutOut, because I’m going to be blogging a lot about consumerism a lot throughout the course of the semester.

I have missed you all so much!  It feels great to be back on WordPress again.  Keep it up!

All my love,
Lauren