Unnecessary necessities

If you are like me you are annoyed more by yourself than by the world or others. By your own mind feeding you the lie of „just for a moment“. No one is forcing you in the algorithm yet here you are. In the thick of it. Staring at your screen, the voice in the back of your head getting quieter with every click or scroll while the front of your headed screams more and appeases with arguments of homo oeconomicus. Impuls. Spec Sheet. Reviews. Price Comparison. A grown adult reduced to a pavlovian response.

Let’s not sugarcoat it: We switch stuff because we want to, not need to. We bought into the story of what we have is not enough. We are rich beyond measure but too blind to see it because we are too busy squinting at the next thing the algorithm shoves into our prefrontal cortex with surgical precision. It is not just gear. It is status, a promise, even though misleading.

The frontline is everywhere and you are sold fucking promises. And, they all adhere to the same notion: better, faster, cooler, i.e. YOU ARE NOT ENOUGH. It infects everyone, shape shifts appearance and preys on your individual weakness. (Oh, and no you are not better because you follow the trends purchasing second hand! You are just on a different section of the line.)

The real tragedy is not the money. Remember: We are rich. It is the time, the potential of action, of clear thought even — wasted.

So for 2025, I am setting boundaries. 3 things. That is it. A list of things I am allowing myself to buy apart from maintenance; even though that feels like a cop-out. If I were stronger, I would not need a list at all. But I know myself. I know I will justify and rationalize and lie to myself just enough to click buy now. So three things it is — a concession to my own weakness. Because the truth ultimately is: I do not need another thing. I need time and focus.

This is not about self-denial, not about minimalism or another advertisment-network trend; it is about self-respect. About taking back time, I have so freely given to the market bulls and their vultures (read: advertisement networks; include: influencers). No more.

This is not just about sticking it to this hollow system (although, to be hones, that middle finger feels fucking good). It is about reclaiming my time, my energy, my sanity. It is about stripping away the noise. This system strives on distraction. Clarity, focus, and discipline is cutting that leash.

Call it unnecessary necessities, call it necessary unnecessities - hell, call it whatever you want. But let’s not kid ourselves: the stuff we keep chasing is just what they want us to need.