An adage that we are all familiar with – the more, the merrier. It applies to persons, suggesting a wisdom in crowds, but in this consumerist age, it applies to things that we possess.
Paradoxically, there are philosophies that tell us to remain attuned with nature and possess only what is required – minimalism and sustainability as two takeaways. We have talked about the fact that principally, Indians have been sustainable, but we are far from being minimalists, as we always think of possessing things that we may never need!
This is exemplified in our AOH too! We have a group where we are supposed to give away things in good condition which we are unable to find utility in, but someone else might. Ironically, you see a few folks waiting for a chance to get them.
Hoard, Hoard, Hoard, is the philosophy here – ‘save for a rainy day’ taken to another level!
And it is not just décor, clothing or utility items, but things as small as PET bottles, paper and polythene bags, rubber bands, and more. While I appreciate the nobility of thought to reuse, what baffles me is when an XL-sized person hoards S-sized clothes, or shoes that won’t fit, or other things because they are being ‘given away’.
What bemuses me more is when people ‘sell’ stuff that they have been hoarding, e.g. random ‘Shagun’ envelopes, or extensively ‘used’ kitchenware for paltry sums, children’s comics for a princely sum of ‘Rs 50/ 100’, and ‘second hand’ furniture at prices equal to or beyond the original.
Again, tis a travesty that all great ideas in the masses’ hands lose their greatness. A bigger travesty is we at Hamlet think that we are above those masses, but somehow let these ideas lose their relevance, because, as individuals, or as a group, we do not possess the right screening mechanisms.
