Stuff, Stuff, and More Stuff!

I try hard to maintain a minimalist lifestyle. I just think that life is so much simpler when I have less stuff to worry about. With less clutter, my space stays cleaner, my school backpack stays lighter, and I don't get stressed out as often about messes. I was originally convinced to be a minimalst by this website:
http://zenhabits.net/
And I also have found this website to be extremely helpful:
http://mnmlist.com/

Recently I became even more convinced that minimalism is the way to go by this eye-opening video:
http://www.storyofstuff.com./
The entire website is really good, actually.

I often wonder why people get so attached to their stuff. I'm guilty of this attachment at times, too. I keep buying things just because I think they are nice or pretty, even though I have no use for them. I spend money on stuff that I get rid of a few weeks later, and then I feel like I have to go out and buy something else. Just like the above video states many times, we Americans are consumers. We consume and consume and consume, and then we consume some more. Food, clothes, toys, books, electronics, furniture, stuff, stuff, STUFF! It's gotten pretty ridiculous. Shopping and eating are both major parts of our cutlure. They are both social activities that are enjoyed far too much in our society. I often find it difficult to participate in social gatherings at church or school or with friends without having to face the prospect of food- mostly food that isn't vegan. And many times people just want to go shopping when they are bored. This is a major waste of time and money.

Why can't we have social gatherings that involve something other than consuming? What about those old quilting bees that the fronteir women used to have? What about having a food making party instead of a food eating party? We could benefit so many people and improve our own lifestyles significantly if we would just limit our consumption.

I read a quote from Gentle World once that has really stuck with me. (Gentle World is an amazing vegan website that I visit quite regularly: http://www.gentleworld.org/) The quote is very simple. "Tread lightly." That's it. Apparently it originated from an old American Indian proverb. The idea that is being conveyed is that we should tread lightly on the earth while we are here. In other words, we should try to leave as small a mark as possible on the planet. The way America consumes stuff is a perfect example of how not  to follow this idea. I believe that the best way to live life is to own and buy as little stuff as possible, eat what plants provide (so that no animals have to be killed for our meals), and be producers. By "producer", I mean someone who does something to repay what he or she has consumed. This "producing" could take place in the form of making and selling something, such as clothes or soap. A "producer" might also garden and sell produce. The idea is that a producer gives back to the earth and other people instead of just consuming.

Every day I strive to live up to this description. I try to be a producer, and I hope to tread lightly on this beautiful earth that God has given us.