When you can’t buy clothes, and in my case, the free agent that I am, clothes are, well, secondary or tertiary on my “need” chart. That said, the concept of holiday “SHOPPING” is beating like a drum in my head – which becomes louder and louder when I download my emails and view offer after offer from the likes of Crate & Barrel, StoneWall Kitchen, NapaStyle, J.Crew and so on and so on. I just want to shop. The same way I want to ride my bike which is my personal form of therapy, I also want to click “add to cart” and then “purchase”. It’s not that I am even shopping for myself or others – it’s the concept of being able to do this – the feeling that emerges when I know the UPS truck will soon arrive.
Yet, for this holiday season I told myself, it’s time to do the more “arts and craftsy” gifts for the family – photos, photo books, and the occasional book from Barnes & Noble (which has been promoting some great discounts). Of course, yesterday a catalogue arrived from WORLD VISION – a non profit helping nearly 100 million people in nearly 100 countries each year. You can buy a cow, or pig or a goat. You can buy chickens. Or perhaps a gift pack – a goat + 2 chickens. Or soccer balls for school. When you read the pages of this catalogue, suddenly that Berry Breakfast Gift Basket from StoneWall Kitchen seems so very unnecessary. Perhaps it’s time to acknowledge my consumer needs and accept them, but spend my dollars where there truly are life or death human needs.
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Rebecca, let me give you a tip. The next time you get a solicitous e-mail from one of your favorite brands go to the bottom of the page and hit “unsubscribe.” I have done this with Nordstrom, J.Crew, Anthropologie, etc. Now I am not tempted to get my cart on. I admire your desire to save the world one gift at a time. I’m on board. We need a little more of that! Thanks! Sally