A formal apology

I am the ultimate consumer. Capitalist extraordinaire. I have many THINGS, most of which were purchased with the intention of making me look better, feel more confident, gain respect, or establish my social status among my peers. I have a watch with dead batteries, but I wear it anyway. Why? I haven't a clue. Does the shiny thing on my wrist make you hold me in higher esteem? For your sake, I certainly hope not. I have a walk in closet overflowing with expensive clothing that I never wear. The shirts, pants, jackets, and sweaters will continue to hang until I decide to get rid of them in order to make room for more ill-fated attire. If there is a burial ground where technology is laid to rest, my personal plot it rather sizeable. It is filled with items I deemed were too big, too slow, or simply not cool enough. What do I do with this antiquated garbage? I throw it away, buy some more, ad-nauseam. It's the American way. Do you like all of my awesome things? I certainly hope so, because my confidence and sense of self is dependent on your opinion. If you don't approve, just give me some time to earn money and I will go buy all new stuff until you finally accept me. STOP. How did it come to this? Where was my moral compass as I traded thousands of hard earned dollars for all of this senseless trash, meanwhile knowing full well that I live in a world plagued with needless suffering. At one point in my life did I buy into the disgraceful lie that my importance as an individual is so fickle as to be defined by the accumulation of possessions? It is all so very sad and pathetic, but there is hope. I am 23 years old and the time has come for a long overdue change. This is my official announcement to the world that I have woken up from the dangerous coma of force fed consumerism. I shudder to think what would have happened had I stayed asleep. In 16 days I will move to the other side of the world and I will put my entire life into a single suitcase. My new minimalistic lifestyle will require that I take with me only the things I need to reach full potential. Everything else, all of those THINGS that do nothing but clutter my life and fill my heart with guilt, they will stay behind. They are symbols of my social irresponsibility, reminders of my unforgivable vanity, and for these reasons I am expelling them from my life. This night I offer to the world an apology for my mindless greed, as well a pledge (and hope its not too late) to consume from this day forth with restraint and consciousness.