Lately, I have been challenging inquiries whose answers I am not sure I will ever grasp in full. Like, who
I am, who I want to be, what I believe in, and that which I can alter in my
thoughts, actions, and daily way of life to provide the greatest welfare for
not only myself, but for other human beings, non-human animals, the untouched wilderness,
and our environment in whole. But life is dynamic, it shifts and it strays from plan; and I believe my answers to these questions will shift in alignment as time passes.
Ironically, the philosophy that is giving me the
greatest cognitive dissonance is simultaneously the one I pursue with the most
fervor. I advocate for a life of simplicity primarily for the sake of the empirical
fact that overconsumption causes a myriad of social issues and injustices.
Our
food production system is destroying our environment -- it drives and encourages
climate change, it shamelessly murders innocent non-human animal lives, and it creates
byproducts detrimental to human health; our need for instant gratification and
fast fashion contributes to cheap labor/unfair wages and maltreatment of
workers abroad; our oppression of nature aligns greatly with the oppression of
minorities; and our ignorance for food waste, landfills, and the reality of
recycling is a deliberate disregard to a global population that doesn't have the
privilege to waste.
For these reasons, and for many more, I deeply reject this
consumerist and materialistic nation we live in. For these reasons, and for many
more, I have implemented simplification into my life. Not only are we trying to
combat social issues, but simplicity removes excess in a way that shifts focus
onto exploration into parts of life that I find more profound and worthwhile of
my time.
The problem is, just the mere fact that I am talking about
simplifying my life comes from a place of privilege. I come from a nation that
has such a disordered and unhealthy mentality of/relationship with production
and consumption, that overconsumption has become a national emergency, despite
what our political leaders and industries might claim.
Our national population’s human health is
declining at a frightening pace, but living in a state of sickness and toxicity,
of exhaustion and dissatisfaction, has become the norm for us. Our need for
more is not only destroying the natural beauty and the lives of both humans and
animals within our borders, but we have involved the rest of the globe, who is consequently
left to battle the severe ramifications of life under our reign.
How much more will we produce just because we can/have the means to before we realize we are destroying both ourselves and our fellow inhabitants in all facets of life?
We, as a privileged
nation, are exploiting the rest of the world to reap benefits for ourselves,
for we have the affluence to over-consume, leaving the rest of the world to
under-consume. And I, as a privileged human being, must realize that my
capacity to reduce the amount of things and stuff in my life; to choose where I
want to buy my food from; to make conscious clothing choices; to adopt a
specific diet and have access to these foods whenever I need/want them; to give old
and unused items to charity; and to choose to over-consume if I feel so inclined all place me within a state and a status in which a majority of the human
population does not identify with.
So, despite how deeply I believe a simplistic lifestyle will
grant the greatest global benefits, it is a sensitive subject. When I advocate
for this, I am calling to an audience with privileged roots, for it does not particularly
pertain to the masses. A small percentage of the population is those that
exploit, while the rest suffer under the burden of this exploitation.
This is not me preaching down to others from a privileged
high-horse or to create an 'us vs. them' dichotomy, but rather a call for awareness, so that we may all equally appear in alignment when it comes to wellbeing and quality of
life. A call for simplicity is a call to end a culture of over-consumption that
exterminates earthly life and the quality with which it can be lived. Every
decision made is either in support of or rejection of excess production and
consumption.
The majority already lives a simplistic life, but not by choice. For
some, simple is survival. For others,
simple is something one aspires to achieve after exposure to a life of opportunity, resources, and privilege (whether it be due to race, gender, socioeconomic
status, birthplace, or other social barriers/advantages), and ultimately renders the culture of consumerism to be unappealing and/or unsustainable.
So, to downsize your house; to sell your car and opt for
public transportation; to minimize the amount of junk or clutter or ‘things’ in your
household; to opt for a healthier diet in which you can selectively choose from
which stores you want to buy food; to cut out excess projects/material
accumulations that suck up precious time and money; to think of education with
such nonchalance/to have the choice of whether or not to attend, IS ALL PRIVILEGE.
In conclusion, I still strongly believe simplicity can
provide universal benefit. Yet, please, recognize that if you can even think
about simplifying your life, you are privileged. Please, recognize that the
majority of our human population is not in this situation whatsoever. Please,
recognize that the greatest reason for which I advocate this is to help balance
the dissonance between global production and consumption ramifications, to help reduce cheap
labor and worker maltreatment, to protect our poor planet from further
inconceivable exploitation, and to lessen the injustice upon human rights that
occurs at the hands of our constant demand for more. I don’t think it is wrong
to put simplicity into practice, but we must first acknowledge the privilege
that is innately and inevitably interlaced with it.
And please, don’t hide behind the blanket of ignorance that
big industry provides for us; educate yourself on better options and
alternatives, for the demand of individuals will ultimately drive and transform
the inner workings of our national production and consumption habits.
We seem to be stuck in such rigid, mindless routines, so approach daily decisions with a new attitude. Remove mindless choices and recognize your reasons behind why you do what you do. Let gratitude -- not fear of the unknown -- rule you.
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