Are You Rethinking Shopping?

Things do feel different...

Last week I was running errands and found myself at a strip mall with a little time to waste, so I stopped in to a Nordstrom Rack. I’m not a frequent shopper there, but I enjoy browsing every now and again.

I fondled a few bars of soap. I tried on a beret and a pair of clogs. I eyed a glass jewelry box. But I couldn’t shake the overwhelming feeling of despair. All I could see was an avalanche of stuff that no one needs: a giant faux fur accent pillow, a billion scented candles, earrings in the shape of ski hats. There’s nothing WRONG with any of these things individually, but all together, at that moment in time, they took on the appearance an unstoppable tsunami of… junk.

After the paywall

• How I’m thinking about shopping right now

• Some people whose work I want to support

• A few things I’ve bought that I’m excited about