why do we spend money on things and not on ourselves?

So Black Friday is spreading around the world and there are, thankfully, lots of alternatives to getting drawn in by that commercial, consumerist approach to life. Always good to see kickback!

Enlightenme has some good ideas  – though I’m not sure whether we need wells….. (Artesian markets?)! Treehugger refers to it as ‘bloodsport of mass consumerism’- nice – and has some good alternatives on offer – the one about writing a letter took my fancy. Inhabitat also has some interesting suggestions.

And I love the ‘Civilised Saturdays’ bookshop option, shared in The Standard.

It’s a good day to reflect actually – give some thought to what we each value in our lives. I’m not going to go all hippy-slushy here and bang on about mindfulness (though I believe in it, admittedly). I love a bit of reflection – indulging oneself in thoughtfulness and investing not money but time in thinking things through. Wouldn’t it be great if you could get reflectivity on prescription? Imagine the scenario “Doctor, I am feeling overwhelmed by all the things in my head – I need time to think”. And you walk out the surgery not with a piece of paper listing drugs on it, but a list of mentors, names of people that can help you think more clearly, therapists, counsellors, visionaries, critical friends……

Maybe we can turn this into a doctor-heal-thyself scenario, whereby we diagnose what we need and we actively do something about it? I bet even the GP has moments when a mentor would help!

Days like today can be a good time to harness those thoughts. A bit like Christmas day – if you’re not keen on it (which I’m not) it’s a fantastic time to spend planning the year ahead over a glass of wine and a mince pie.

So forget buying a bargain basement thing you don’t need – be selfish, indulge in yourself. Write yourself a letter/prescription – commit to some me time.