One of the biggest issues facing Western societies is that they are all consumption-oriented.
Not enough time is spent creating – all [most] people want to do is consume: entertainment, food, money, fun…
We all want shortcuts. We all want to be at the level where we don’t have to think to accomplish work. We all want to have fun instead of working. Some of us have fun while working, but most people just want the day off.
One of the biggest drawbacks to a consumption-based economy (like most western economies – and certainly how the United States’ economy is currently structured), is that consumers feel compelled to consume ever more. We have to have the next best thing out there. Keeping up with the Joneses.
I think far too few people create in our society, because it is so much easier to consume.
I know I don’t create nearly as much as I consume – I wish I did, but I don’t … yet. One of my personal goals is to move that balance in my life more towards the creating end from the consuming one – little things along the way certainly help: mentoring, teaching, volunteering, growing a garden, etc.
What ways do you see that folks can create more and consume either less in gestalt, or at least less from others because they’re contributing themselves?