It's the consequence of having way too much stuff.
We've acquired so many physical possessions - that we no longer have enough space for - so we sell them. Surely some of these things were necessities at the time, that we're passing along to a new person who needs them. (Such as a baby crib once the children have grown up.) But I'd be willing to bet that a number of the items for sale are things we've simply become bored with and possibly never needed in the first place. Perhaps we're selling the "old" stuff so we can acquire more "new" stuff, which will later become "old" stuff which we'll sell to...well, you get the idea.
Is this a vicious cycle?
A sustainable practice?
We've been programmed our whole lives to buy stuff.
Does it make us feel good? Is that how we find meaning?
Think before you speak makes a lot of sense.
How about: Think before you buy.
What is this "garage sale" you speak of?
Inspired by a chat with Seth Godin and discussions at the Acumen Fund Student Leaders Workshop 2009. More on Acumen Fund and that experience in a future post.
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