Consuming less, creating more

It is amazing to me, as I go about my daily life of information overload, the amount of advertising that I am bombarded with. I click on a news story, and before the story will play, a commercial does. I can't stand to read most magazines, since every other page is an ad--take a look at most women's interest mags for an example. I was at a friend's house, flipping through the Oprah Mag, one I don't normally read. Even on the pages of text are ads squashed on the far sides of the pages.

I think I am highly susceptible to marketing in general. I will try a brand or switch to a new one if I like the packaging, I love funny commercials, even if I abhor the product. It is sick. That is why I am doing the Compact. I have pledged not to buy anything new for the next year, with the exception of a few basics (food, medicine, toiletries, socks and underwear). I also will buy consumable art supplies when needed. But I really processed the problem of consumerism at our local Wal-Mart. Yes, friends, I shop at Wal-Mart more than my fair share--it has become the biggest industry in our tiny town. I was first amused, then annoyed, and then really appalled at the holiday time line set by our Wal-Mart store. I was in the store a week before Halloween, and they were setting up the Christmas displays. As the holiday season wore on, the number of glassy eyed, angry faces I saw meandering the aisles grew and grew. The Christmas carols, which I love, were being scoffed at as people shoved and yelled and shopped their way into debt, rather than enjoying the holiday. Now, here it is in the beginning of January, and you can buy all the Valentines day schmaltz you can carry.

So far, being a Compacter is rad (yes, I said rad. Deal with it). I have been more creative in the kitchen--old baby food containers are a great size for ranch dip to take to work with me, a container that mushrooms came in works great for a waste basket while cleaning veggies, etc. I am looking forward to my trip to the Hospice store this weekend. I want to find some shelves to organize my art supplies, and I am looking for yarn to continue my knitting habit (its only 2 skeins a week, and I can stop anytime I want). Most important to me, whether I can go a whole year without buying new or not, is that I am less wasteful and more creative with what I already have. Paid off credit card debt, here I come! Oh, and its good for the environment, too.