I consider myself a fairly conscious, ‘green’ person. My car is a hybrid, I have the curly light-bulbs, I recycle everything I possibly can. You know the type - a normal person. When I viewed this video, I was so ashamed of myself. We already know Americans are incredible conspicuous consumers, but this video shows just how over the top we are. And it is frightening. After feeling ashamed, the next thing I felt was paranoid. Are we on the verge of science fiction? I mean really on the verge. Should I buy some land far from the city so I can grow my own vegetables and be self sufficient? Is the end of the world near? Quite possibly.

The first thing I did was stop eating beef and pork. The next thing I did was not buy that pair of shoes I really, really wanted; really, really needed. Of course I didn’t need them. I probably have fifteen pairs of shoes, at least, knocking around the house. (My daughter has me beat with fifty some pairs, so I felt a little bit better then.)

We definitely don’t need this incredibly attractive stuff. I love going to the dollar store and coming home with $27 (that is twenty-seven items, mind you) worth of stuff. Yup, the dreaded stuff. Plastic junk, made in China, probably filled with enough uranium to create a nuclear weapon.

So, I am not going to the dollar store to buy stuff, I am trying not to buy stuff I really don’t need, and I am trying to inspire the people around me. It is so frustrating to think I can completely change my lifestyle, and not have an impact, if everyone else doesn’t do the same.

Please follow the link and view this video. Be patient as it loads each chapter. Please try to buy less stuff. And tell everyone you know to stop buying stuff.

www.storyofstuff.com.