obsessive consumption

we are not the sum of our material possessions. although i completely believe in this statement, at the same time, i am a collector of things...books, vinyl records, CLOTHES, jewelry, cameras, magazines...the list goes on and on. however, i do not think that i have these things for the sake of having them. this book, Obsessive Consumption is a compendium of Kate Bingaman-Burt's purchases over the course of several years. I looked through it the last time i was in Barnes and Noble and thought that it was groundbreaking--are we simply our belongings? can a person be judged on what is in their shopping cart?

so many people follow these complete extremes--either being attached to objects is selfish and unnecessary, or an obsession with things is exaggerated.
i enjoy surrounding myself with beautiful objects that inspire me and reflect who i am as a person. while clothes and fashion can appear shallow at best, how i dress is a daily creative outlet--a vehicle for me to express myself and my personal aesthetic. the same goes for my collections--i like the ongoing hunt to add to my collections, and experience joy when a record i've been searching for or a novel i've wanted is found. silly? probably. but manifesting something you like is always a blessing, in my eyes.
it does make me a little sad when people feel a need to have things merely for the sake of having them--or being able to brag about them on Facebook. i do not think that you should purchase any article of clothing, or accessory, or newest Apple product just to be able to say that you own it. in all reality, who cares? it really doesn't matter if you've acquired the newest designer purse or iPhone...it does not make you a better, kinder person, and boasting about it via the Internet...just trashy. this is not to claim that you cannot speak about the good things in your life without sounding rude and bragadocious, but to say things in a manner where you are trying to instigate jealously has been more and more common online, and i sincerely hope that i never come across this way, as it is not my intention.
i'm aware that this is essentially a rant, but i am not speaking about against materialism or anything of that nature. things should be purchased out of their own merit because they bring your personal happiness, not based on who is going to be envious of your owning it. i just think that material possessions do not alter the person you are in the inside--they are accoutrements, not your identity.