Consumerism and Nature

I think to some extent, many people living in America today have severed tied with nature to the point in that the only way they can comfortably relate to it is through consumerism. Being able to feel connected to and even comfortable in nature takes a certain open-mindedness and way of thinking, something many people have lost. There are many things to blame for this.
One contributor is the media and the constant advertisement strategies woven into people’s lives by large corporations all vying for the attention of the consumer in the capitalist society in which we exist. In a single day, we view dozens of ads or methods of advertisement. They cover public places, are ingrained in the entertainment we see or listen to, they even appear on us, on our clothing, our cars, even the food we eat. Everything available for sale has a group of people behind it, trying to make us identify with their product, to subconsciously want to buy more of it. Many people fall into the trap of identifying themselves with the things they own; indeed, the things we own end up owning us. Wealth has become a way of exerting dominance in today’s society, a fact that advertisers recognize and take advantage of. Being a consumer is also what drives our economy; its strength is dependent on the constant buying and selling of goods and services. There are many stimuli that contribute to the thought process lurking beneath the surface in many of us whispering “buy, buy, buy!”
Another inhibitor of people’s ability to connect with nature is the fact that the majority of people in America live in urban areas, away from nature entirely. It’s difficult to have a connection with nature if rarely even get to see it. Plato once wrote that the mind is like a sheep, always grazing, absorbing and eventually becoming everything around it. To a certain extent, this is true; the longer someone lives in an urban area, the greater their sense of connection to that place. A big part of living in harmony with nature and having that special connection is having access to natural areas and spending time immersed in nature. Though bits and pieces of nature can be found everywhere, it is impossible to describe to someone what it feels like to be surrounded by forest at night; it’s like trying to describe what chocolate tastes like to someone who has never tried it.
Despite these walls we have built that keep us away from living in sync with nature, it certainly inspires awe in most of us. Unfortunately, many people have difficulty understanding, or are even frightened by the thought of being immersed in nature. Perhaps it’s the wildness and uncertainty, or the disconnect that occurs when one ventures into places outside of civilization. Thus, people connect in a way they feel comfortable with and are well versed in: consumerism.
Overcoming this dilemma is no easy feat. It will take generations and significant changes in the way people think and live to be able to connect with nature body, mind and soul. However, we have to start some way. I think a good way to start is to try to own as little as possible, to try to use things as many times before acquiring new things, to be aware of how much we use and throw away. Do people really need ten pairs of jeans? An SUV? A manicure? A big house? A subscription to Cosmopolitan? The point is to start somewhere, even if it just means turning the light off when you leave the room. The best way of making a statement is by doing something, and hey, you never know who may be watching.