Worship at the altar of consumption

I might be the last person under the age of 80 to not be on The TikTok. But apparently there’s a bunch of crazy rich asians who have blown up by flaunting all the fancy sh*t they buy (probably with daddy’s money).

And people gobble it up. Fools!

But, if I’m being honest, I was no different as a wee lad glued to my television watching MTV Cribs.

I was mesmerized by the lifestyles of the rich and famous (Mariah Carey, Tony Hawk, Richard Branson, etc.). The mere sight of all the cool stuff they spent their money on made me salivate with envy. They were the definition of cool.

Or so I thought.

In hindsight, I didn’t actually think they were cool. I imagined how cool I would seem to others if that was me.

I call this worshipping at the altar of consumption.

Why do we worship someone’s ability to consume, consume, and consume some more (aka buy stuff)?

I heard a great point on a podcast the other day that hit me like a two-by-four to the back of my skull:

It takes no special skill to consume.

Let me take it a step further as is my wont. I bet an orangutan could become an expert consumer in no time (if someone taught them the art of credit card swiping).

That would be a sight to see, wouldn’t it?

Consumption culture amplifies the great lie, whoever dies with the most toys wins.

Yet anyone with more than two brain cells to rub together knows that’s a bunch of hooey.

Nobody cares about your stupid toys more than you do.

Consumption is easy. That’s why it’s for amateurs.

Creation? That sh*t’s hard. That’s why it’s the playground for pros.

Because creating something from nothing takes real skill. And it can’t be faked. That’s important.

As I’ve gotten older, and hopefully a little less dumb, I only admire those who flaunt what they’ve created (aka make stuff). Not what they’ve consumed.

I don’t even care if I like what they create. The mere act automatically triggers a tip of my cap and a bow.

Create a business? A movement? A podcast? A blog post? A joke? A new idea that gets me to question my assumptions?

You’re my kind of person.

Consumption is seductive. Creation is sexy.

Worship accordingly.

When you’re lying on your deathbed, will you be more proud of what you consumed? Or what you created?

Your thoughts? Comments? Complaints? Please leave a reply below.