Excessories

Excessories In the Western world, money may serve as a loose marker of competence (ones ability to provide for a family, save for retirement, and stay out of debt are all signs of his or her proficiency). Ostentatious displays of material wealth, however, are evidence of incompetence. Not unlike peacocks, humans feel the need to signal their supposed prosperity to attract others. And even when we dont have the means, the modern world makes it easy for us to flex our consumerist muscles by way of 0% financing, luxury rentals, and other modes of consumer fakery. Even nine-year-olds are flaunting their excess these days. When you step back, though, you realize how silly this is: look at my chrome-plated rims, my logo-plated handbag, my oversized house with more toilets than peopleâ€"dont I look relevant? But of course, excess isnt a symptom of relevancy; it isnt even a demonstration of happiness or significance or wellbeing. In fact, the opposite is usually true: our excessories merely hide our discontent while showcasing our insecurities at the same time. Subscribe to The Minimalists via email.