american consumer

In the age on the American consumer, we need to be producers.  

That's the contradiction, and juxtaposition of all of it.

As America was formed was on the back of production, for and by all classes.

Minimal are the days of production, and consumption is met with a larger market share.  And the very nature that now separates the classes.

Consumerism.

Capitalism.

But in the end, "we" wanted this. 

To have production without effort.

Which is a masking of more time for consumption.

It's plagued our society.

It plagues me and my heart.

It plagues you and you don't even know.

Consumption over production.

In the end, balance is what is necessary.

Balance, however, will never be found here.

Or in a life of consumption.

Consumption and Connection are our middle names

Consumption and Connection (or more so lack there of) are our middle names.

We need Connection, and have found some comfort in disconnection from others.

But that cannot be the end of Connection.

Consumption is necessary.

But ALL things in moderation.

Consumption and Connection are no different.

We consume at a high rate these days.  And I say the proverbial we but pray and hope for those that have resisted their nature, through God or otherwise.

I can't say I do, but I try.

As we all should.

Consumption of everything around us, and probably most critical, of our time and attention, can plague the space for connection.

Ahh to be a producer.

But we're marketed everyday to be a consumer.

I pray there's still connection between the consumption.

Otherwise we'll wake up lost and consumed.

All we want is Comfort, and the Liver King

Why is this "Liver King" so popular?

We have created a society, especially in America, that pleasure and comfort are above all.

Thankfully that isn't all of us, but it is a part of all of us.

While the Liver King shows discomfort and a frictionfull life in a very extreme way, there are many incremental ways to apply the principle that through discomfort and friction (iron produces iron), meaning, purpose, and peace are found.

That seems like a big goal, like this guy's.

But it is not.

It is a daily goal to move forward in some way.

To make decisions over the easy ones.

That's been said.  But we have rejected the idea and moved more towards comfort, especially technologically, let alone physically.

We have advanced so much in these areas while the world around us degrades in so many others.

This degradation is due to many causes but it comes down to comfort.

Comfort for one can be discomfort for another.

Consider, we, hell, I, want cheap prices.

What is the cost of that?  Most likely cheap labor.

That's just a cheap example of discomfort but there are endless.

Comfort has its place, but it is not meant to be the goal.

And it is the goal.

The goal of our society is riches, things, and comfort.

And that will leave you hollow, wanting more, and uncomfortable in the end.

Individualism/sense of self

Social media, society, media has created this push for an age of individualism and sense of self.

What we don't see as people is the destruction of community and communal values when these walls are torn apart.

We must have a sense of understanding and self, but to enhance communal relationships as a community is also built based on need, the need of many talents.

While diversity is preached in the streets and on the corporate networks of this country, we as a people accept more and possibly have a more diverse mindset, but manys lives are indicative of the individualistic mindset.

There's certainly a spiritual component here, but this same identity crisis of self vs community is playing out around us.

As many continue to live lives through screens, as I am actively demonstrating and hypocritically taking part in, we move further away from ideals and learned understanding through community to opinions formed through narratives that play out in the corners of our heads, that then dictate the actions that play out in our world.

We were meant to be individuals to enhance the world, but individualism in 2022 is to enhance our posture or cause, and that sometimes seems it.  Cause and opinion are replacing community and action.

The pandemic did something to me, I can't lie.  But who are we to let it take our societies as it was meant to take our health.

the question is no longer do they need this, it's will they buy this.

Consumerism has certainly, I would assume for now many years in American society, been a major driver of industry.

Well, shouldn't demand and need drive production and supply.

No.  Pure consumerism and pure capitalism do.

Or, at least, more than ever.

There used to be a need.  A gap in industry and market, which would be fulfilled.

Now, industry is a major driver in consumer need.

This is so visible in the drink industry.

It's almost Lorax-ish and selling air.

Talk to 50 Cent about selling water.

Talk to Connor McGregor, or any athlete, star, or YouTuber about selling water with alcohol in it.

Talk to any action star, athlete, or otherwise about energy drinks.

There is a need to drink.  And a compounded need, sometimes to relax.

Water and Alcohol can be a demand curve that is indicative of the population and the basic need.  

Or it can be indicative of the market and the ability to market, distribute, and sell any version of water we can concoct, from coffee, to pop to energy drinks to alcohol to water.

This is consumerism, capitalism and the complete basic waste, and bastardizing, or commercializing, of a need.

Self Help

This phrase seems already almost over used.

And I'm sure oversold and under delivered as well.

But, whatever it is.  It is needed.  We need someone to help self.

And I've 100% always believed in religion for that piece, which other fill in their own gaps.  

But it's apparent that we all need help.

I think when you're fully engaged in church, community can, and is programmed to be, the cathartic gap our souls need.

Self help can be in many forms, expanding past religion, for us a beings to find comfort or peace or purpose.  Again, I look to God, and many have varying views.  But on many levels, our world is so complex, complex and confusing structures and processes are sometimes needed to decipher.  Or we're left to not know.

I've always self helped by self medicating of sorts, nothing serious.

Therapy, psychiatric services, and medication that go along with it are available at an income gap.  Possibly at the tails, possibly for those willing to invest their percentage based on need.

Either way, it can be difficult based on financial constraints, let alone internal constraints.

I'm hoping to start with a light dose of counseling. 

Because, if those of use who raised some of our more formative years on shows like Sopranos and Billions, where the main characters are supported by a very dedicated mental health program.

Modern companies attempt to incorporate those but are still not at pace and eye level with the need.  

Maybe I've convinced to use the company's I work for,  because admittedly they do present options.  Nothing as accessible as Billions but I am not that grossing.

Either way, mental health services for all.

Tall

I'd like not to attribute some of my (partial circumstaintial (and minor)]) success due to the mere fact that I'm tall.

I guess people look to those tallest like we may lay to a building or a lighthouse.(?)

Or it's as having more ability due to increased length.(??)

That doesn't sound right, so I'm sure that's not it.

But it can be said, and I have heard, and can be researched, if must, height can factor into this crazy thing we call profession, which was warped from 'life's purpose' to 'life's purpose to make money'.

I can emphatically say that while I'd like to subscribe to any esthetically or physical features led to my current employment, which lacks many, if any, physical requirements, but, I've, like us all, felt a sense of lack.  It doesn't matter where that is.  

What matters is navigating around that.

Filling gaps.  With needed years of experience, wisdom of mentors, self learning there are many ways.

10 years ago I was reading note cards in my MBA class for our weekly discussion and would have to write every word I spoke, to today, I stumble across direction to my 20 person team I co-manage.  No note cards.