An open letter about modern consumerism

An Open Letter to the Modern Consumer

(Or, Why Amazon Might Be a Bigger Problem Than El Chapo)

Dear Besties,

Let’s talk about something uncomfortable—shopping. Not the fun “I got a great deal” kind, but the mindless spending, emotional band-aid kind. The kind that fills our carts 🛒, our homes 🏠, and our credit card statements 💳 while leaving us feeling just as empty as before.

We live in a world that tells us we need everything—right now. The latest shoes 👠, designer bags 👜, kitchen gadgets 🍳, the perfect home décor 🛋️. And social media? It’s only made things worse, constantly showing us people who seem to have it all together, making us feel like we need to keep up. But at what cost?

Some of us are drowning 🌊. Not just in debt 💰, but in sadness 😞, trauma 🫤, and loneliness 🥺. We joke about “retail therapy” 🛍️, but let’s be real—if a friend were spiraling with alcohol 🍷, we’d step in. Yet when we see people buried in Amazon boxes 📦, spending money they don’t have on things they don’t need, we stay silent 🤐. Because it’s “normal,” right?

But it’s not. It’s addiction in another form. And if we’re being honest—Amazon might be a bigger problem than El Chapo 😳. One moved illegal substances 💊, the other legal ones, but both have had a massive impact on people’s lives. Consumerism has us chasing happiness in the form of handbags and housewares, convincing us that the next purchase will be the one that finally makes us feel fulfilled.

And I know—because that was me. Retail therapy was my go-to because I had zero value for myself. I thought things gave me value. I thought the next purchase would make me feel whole. But it never did. It never could. I had to do the work. I had to face the hard stuff. I had to learn to love me—without the shopping carts, the deliveries, and the quick dopamine hits.

The truth is, consumerism feeds on insecurity 😔. It convinces us that our worth is tied to what we own, how we look, and what we can show off. But deep down, we all know—it’s never been about the stuff. It’s about the feelings we’re trying to escape. The discomfort we don’t want to sit with. The need for validation in a world that tells us we’re never enough.

So here’s the question: Are we being honest with ourselves? 🪞 Are we making choices that align with who we really want to be? Are we setting the example we want for our kids 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦, or are we just passing down the same cycle of overconsumption and financial stress?

Breaking free isn’t easy. It takes awareness. It takes honesty. But it starts with admitting that no amount of shopping will fix what’s broken inside 🫂. Healing doesn’t come from a delivery truck 🚛. And self-worth can’t be found in a shopping cart 🛒.

So, besties, let’s talk about it. Let’s stop pretending everything is fine when we know it’s not. Let’s hold space for each other to be real—because that’s something money can’t buy 💕.

With love (and a touch of tough),

Ericka Peake

OCD Home Solutions