The Christmas crowds are gathering. Downtown is a flurry of holiday panic, a crush of consumerism.
I find myself inhabiting a peculiar place of having a great appreciation for “things”. Clothing, housewares, stationary, etc., while at the same time having disdain for “stuff”—an overabundance of objects, mass consumption for its own sake, like a snake eating its tail. I, and most likely the world itself, do not need more “stuff”.
Just as with human relationships, I crave substance and quality overabundance. The connection I feel toward well-produced items made with quality components, materials and thoughtful design is genuine and deep.
I look forward to engaging with these items. Whether it's the slow burn of the fades put into a pair of high-quality jeans, the patina worn into some leather boots as they enter their sixth year. Both awkward at first, hard to break in and get used to, like a true friendship built on vulnerability. Often, uncomfortable at first yet built to last given the proper care and attention these relationships, both human and inanimate will stay with us for years.
Careful curation of our lives should not be forsaken for convenience. Abundance is no substitute for quality. Invest and repair relationships and things as needed.
There is a link between my human relationships and those with beautifully designed inanimate objects that I’m just now coming to notice. Oddly similar when put side by each. The shared concepts prevail, keeping every aspect of our lives churning in step if we take the time to observe our actions, engagement and consumptions.
Be conscious of these relationships and make your decisions accordingly during this season of consumption. If you have to buy, make it meaningful. A nice pen perhaps, a Lamy or Cross. A high-quality scarf or tickets to an unforgettable show.
Avoid anything that says Supreme in giant block letters, and if funds are tight; make a few different spice rubs and invite yourself for dinner.
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