Why do we all feel compelled to work work work, then consume consume consume? Work, consume, die. I have decided this year that there is a mean spirited campaign going on involving the worlds marketers, manufacturers, drug companies, real estate agents and banks. They all want us to consume more, spend more, be bigger. Its a great con really, how they all convince us we need the bigger house, the bigger car, the latest thing, and how can we do it, well you can borrow more and work harder and when you get the new house and better car and newer thing, it all changes again and you are convinced again that there is a better suburb, cooler widget, faster ride. Hell look at the Joneses.

So I am starting to look at the decisions I am making now and before doing anything I am asking myself “why am I here making this decision and who wants me to make it?”

I was in the hardware shop the other day and as I entered I was dazzled by the awesome display of outdoor living. Fantastic new garden furniture, chairs, bbqs and outdoor fireplaces. God imagine the life we could have, our furniture is ratty and the canvas on our oudoor chairs is worn, and the pictures in the brochures handed to me by a diligent attendant of opulence and leisure look really good. I could be lying in the sun all day long all year, all it costs me is a few thousand dollars, a small price to pay. I will just have to work hard to pay it off is all.

Hang on a minute, work hard, life of leisure. Thats a bit of a conundrum. How can you work hard and live a life of leisure both at the same time? They almost had me, close but no cigar, so instead I borrowed a friends water blaster, bought some new canvas, went home and water-blasted everything while Mel took apart our old and tired canvas chairs and cut and sewed the new canvas we bought. She revived the chairs and I revived the deck and furniture. Now it looks like a million dollars all for $50, the price of the replacement canvas, and 2 hours of my life. Also we are reducing our carbon footprint, we saved a kwila tree and I dont have to drive the old stuff to the tip.

So this year is the year of being a responsible human. I am starting a campaign to fight the fever of consumerism. It will be small and private but I might write about it from time to time. To start here is a quick list of, so be it, new years resolutions, hell why not. Im only 4 days late:

Read more, think more, be more
Do more to enhance my way of living without relying on buying crap
Grow a really impressive moustache
Buy less crap
Avoid marketing – this is tricky as it seems to be everywhere, YouTube, cereal boxes, in the news media, even your best friend with their new iPhone. They all want you to buy crap.
Be a better person – I have this one every year
Move more
Love more
Eat less
Hate less

Well that is all, start small I say.