The Story of Stuff

Oh my gosh! What an amazing video! I just watched the online video The Story of Stuff.  It exposes our consumption-based economy in the United States in complete clarity. 

This time of year, the holidays are all about consumption. How much can you buy? When it comes to being a parent, it’s all about how much can you buy for your kids. In fact, for many parents and children, how-much-can-you-buy-for-your-kids happens the entire year.  Almost every parent I talk with complains about how many toys their child has and then how hard it is to get them to keep it picked up and organized.

The more stuff you purchase for your kids, the more stuff your kids want you to buy for them. They begin to think life is all about having the stuff. They begin to think your love is measured by how much stuff you buy for them. You can even become confused about this.

But your love for your child or students is not about the stuff you buy for them! What we all really want—adults and children alike—is happiness and loving connection with the people in our life. Yet we set this aside because having a new TV, a new car, or a remodel to the house seems like a higher priority.

Yet when we all look back at the end of our life, the only things that deeply matter are the people we loved or didn’t love, the joyous experiences we had or didn’t have.

So decide to make this holiday season and 2009 a time where you keep your priorities straight. Where the emotional connection you share with your child or students and the emotional wholeness of your child are your highest priorities. Then you will truly know what living a joyous life means.

And if you haven’t seen the video of The Story of Stuff, do it now! Take the time to watch it. Twenty minutes is nothing compared to the impact and value it can have in your life!

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Marie Crawford]

WOW, what an amazing video! I love the way that she tells it too. It just makes sense. I am thinking a lot about the implications for e3ducation....all of the scripted curriculum that gets us farther away from real education and the craft of teaching. And it is disposable...but are our kids?!

thanks again!
Marie