Shop Till You Drop (your soul)
With the biggest shopping day of the year just around the corner, I’m already thinking about ways to avoid the holiday rush. It’s got me on a few other rants too:
I’ve been listening to Speaking of Faith, a radio program and podcast on American Public Media which sparks some amazing conversations on ethics, religion, meaning, and more. Recently Krista Tippett did a episode on “Money and Moral Balance” (you can listen to it here). She spoke with Nathan Dungan. Dungan is a financial educator and president of Share-Save-Spend, an organization that helps people develop healthy financial habits. It’s a fascinating look at how our culture has moved to a new center – from freedom and a pioneering, adventurous spirit to capitalism and consumerism as the main force behind our culture. After the attacks on September 11, 2001, Bush urged his fellow Americans to show their American spirit and “go shopping”…ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
Bill McKibben, author of Deep Economy, wrote a book back in 1998 called Hundred Dollar Holiday: the Case for a More Joyful Christmas. The average American (averaged including children, the poor,) spends $863 dollars on Christmas presents. (Time) “What we need and long for now are the gifts of time, meaningful family connections, periods of silence, a relationship with the divine,” McKibben writes.
If I still haven’t convinced you to take a chill pill on the holidays, I just won’t shake ya – and I might as well show you this nifty tool.
Its a web wish list – meaning you can add items from any website. My wish list posted below for fun! Make a wish list and share it with me! We can yearn together.
Happy Turkey Day!
