Blog Reflection

Affluenza is a condition that has swept across the wealthy populations. It is highly contagious and it is fueled by the desire for more. It is defined by John de Graaf, David Wann & Thomas H. Naylo as "The bloated, sluggish and unfulfilled feeling that results from efforts to keep up with the Joneses." & "An epidemic of stress, overwork, waste and indebtedness caused by the pursuit of the American Dream." or "An unsustainable addiction to economic growth." This term combines the two words affluence and influenza to clearly state the word's meaning. Every privileged Canadian has felt the effects of it at one time or another as it is what fuels many industry so vigorously. Living in a society today that bombardeds us with images of something that will make us happier for the right price has no doubt affected us psychologically. The idea is to work harder to buy more which should equal happiness. With this other aspects of life have suffered. Families and friends are becoming more distant as a result of the time spent trying to get ahead. To cure our condition we must get of this hamster wheel of consumption, to value personal interaction more than material goods. Carl Honre "Time is scarce so what do we do? well, we speed up... We try to more and more with less and less time, We turn every moment of every day into a race to the finish line, a finish line that we never reach but a finish line none the less."
My life as a first year student can be stressful especially with the impending exams and deadlines that are waiting for me in the following weeks. Most of my time is spent is studying or looking for something more stimulating to do with the extra time I should be studying. Usually when people become to over burden with work family and other obligations the most attractive solution would be a vacation. As is the case for me when ever I feel over encumbered with the pressures of my present life I escape to the possibilities of future "dream vacation". But as satisfying as that may be it is escape. When I think about the future that is time of the present that could have been more enjoyable or more meaningful to me in the present. Being cheap as I am I do not consume as much as I'd like to think. Though my problem is on the opposite end because I am a bit of a hoarder. I seem to see useless value in something that is just useless to me I don't feel inclined to through something away. This may be side affect of my own affluenza. My biggest issue is that I don't wish to waste. Perhaps to rid myself of this affliction I must give the useful stuff away and through the useless crap away. The one issue with giving something away is that I am spreading affluenza. To give something I don't need to someone else is not exactly my the cure but it would help me. Affluenza is a social illness that requires the will of the ill to get better before the can help others. I believe that the ideals International Slow Movement that Carl Honore spoke about can be as contagious as affluenza itself.

Citations:
Carl Honore praises slowness
Affluenza: The All-Consuming Epidemic by John de Graaf, David Wann & Thomas H. Naylo

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