Our world is becoming more fast paced by the minute and it seems along with the consumerist culture of products and pleasures, that people and relationships are being treated in this way more frequently too. In dating culture it has become very obvious, from how we can pick and choose someone based upon their appearance alone to how many just wont stick around with someone any more if they don’t quiet meet the checklist.
In some ways I think this may be a positive but it can also go too far. It can occur in friendships as well as relationships, I’ve recently had personal experience of this with such people and situations where after making one mistake or doing one thing that doesn’t meet their needs alone, they will just drop you like a ton of weight.
It is understandable if situations occur where someone goes too far, we need to be clear with them to not do the same again. However we are all only human and where is the depth and realness when people are marked off a checklist and treat like a consumer product. The deepest and best relationships come when we truly see the person and love and accept them just the same. This is how we can be with family and those closest to us, to have truly valuable lasting real-ationships, we need to see others as their whole self too. Unless of course we are happy with a surface relationship that has no passion, depth or bond.
Maybe products today are not made to last but as people we are not made to be thrown away, we are here to love and be loved as a whole and as we are. This is the kind of relationships I now seek, ones that are real, where others are themselves and I can be too. Because of this I know I too have to be vulnerable and drop my checklist, choosing to see anyone I know and meet as whole person worthy of love and acceptance no matter what.
As for the actual products in my life I always try to keep them as long as I can and recycle (but I am not so attached to them). The people that are in and come into our lives are not material objects but feeling beings, so in knowing this myself I choose to be open and receptive to this, to all the beauty in each person and not just someone who is there to tick my list. I would hope in this I can bring far more to others and that the relationships in my life will be far more real and enriching. As for the consumerists I’ll let them continue shopping 🙂
I’m curious to hear your thoughts on this too, have any of you experienced this or is it something you’ve noticed happening? Do you think it can be a positive at all or purely a negative for our relationships and in how we treat people?
Thank you for all your realness, loving and feedback as always 🙂
Journeys in Writing 
I think, also, we shouldn’t forget to cultivate the current real relationships we have first, before venturing on. This throwaway culture I see too often. There are different levels of friendships, relationships, and I think what you describe as ‘real’ is limited to a handful. Because for those to last, you would need time and effort to keep it going.
I hope there’s more of this mentality of seeing a person for who they are and not just a tick on a checklist!
Thank you A, I agree it does take more time and effort as well as understanding but it is so much more worth it. Lets hope we can rebuild a culture of authenticity instead 🙂