When Shopping Feels Gross...

I had the misfortune of having to do some last minute shopping on Christmas eve, and frankly, I felt kinda gross during the process. It's not that I wasn't feeling the holiday spirit -- I was out with my wife and brother-in-law buying presents for their younger brothers -- but the scene at the Manhattan Mall was a little crazy. During last year's holiday season, people were injured and a man was even killed in crowd stampedes on Black Friday and other massive sale's events. In a supposedly civilized society, things like that should not happen...but when acquiring material things becomes more important than the people you are getting them for, perhaps there is a problem...

A-i-T is not a doctor, but my amateur diagnosis points to a severe case of Mass Consumerism.

Manhattan Mall and the general 34th St. and Broadway area were absolutely packed. It was like a swarm of locusts on a field of crops. Replace locusts with people, and crops with merchandise, and the picture becomes clear. Like me, I'm sure most people were out shopping for loved ones, but in place of laughter and joy, I was struck by the steely looks of determination on people's faces as they hunted down their product prey. People cursed loudly as they came upon lines any rational person should expect to be serpentine in nature and length at this time of year. Parents squabbled with unruly children pressing for an additional gift that they "really, really, really want!" Couples were arguing about what store to hit for their next purchase. Still others just looked angry at the fact that they had to be out on Christmas eve.

It's no secret that over the years Christmas has become an increasingly commercialized holiday. As soon as the months on the calendar start ending with 'B-E-R', the retail industry launches an all out assault on our senses to let us know what essential product is missing from our lives. This media blitz tells how much better our lives will be by buying product X, and it can cause our focus to shift. The spirit of joy and sharing  in this season seems to have been co-opted by capitalism and obscured by a desire for consuming.

CHRISTmas is ultimately about celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. But whether or not you believe in Jesus, this holiday is truly about celebrating and appreciating your familly and friends. The three wise men gave baby Jesus gifts to show their love, respect and appreciation for the Saviour. We continue this tradition by giving gifts on Christmas to show our appreciation for those who love and support us during the other 364 days of the year. It feels amazing to be able to give someone something that they want and/or need and give them a bit of joy wrapped in colorful paper and a bow (if that's your thing).

What concerns me is when too much value becomes attached to the gift over what gift represents. What concerns me is when the drive to acquire a gift supplants the spirit and reason for giving it.

Madonna was more correct and predictive than she knew when she declared back in the 80's that "we are living in a material world." In today's world, consumption and the ability to do so are equated with happiness. The irony is that nothing we buy is built to last, so how can we expect temporal possessions to keep us permanently happy?

I felt gross last Thursday, not because I don't enjoy shopping or possess some "holier-than-thou" attitude when it comes to acquiring new stuff (A-i-T has a wish-list too), but because I was participating in a consumer culture that feels unhealthy. Let's flip it like this: We all know that our favorite fried or fast food tastes great going down, but often we feel a little gross after consuming it, ultimately not making it that satisfying. Current consumer culture is similar in that it feels great going down but after the initial high, the results can be less than satisfying.

Adults-in-Training, how do you feel about current consumer culture...is it in need of a make-over?

Peace,
A-i-T