Episode 80: Contemplative Consumption

“For the earth is full, and there is enough and to spare; yea, I prepared all things, and have given unto the children of men to be agents unto themselves.” D&C 89:17 Americans waste nearly 40% of all food, roughly 42 billion pounds per year, and even in this glut of supply we are undernourished nutritionally speaking, because of how our food is produced for appearance and taste. The same can be said for the media and other resources we consume; as long as it’s pleasing to the eye or ear or taste we neglect counting the cost as a substitute for better alternatives, which unavoidably leaves the lowest echelon of society victimized. In this episode Christopher and Riley delve into the practice of contemplative consumption. Most of us live in a society designed around efficient consumption, which carries a heavy unseen cost. Categorically, we consume resources, food, and media without much thought for how it’s produced, delivered, or the intention behind the consumption (profit, social engineering), because it is so efficiently delivered and available. The immediate by-product of cheap and efficient delivery is waste and lack of fulfillment on the part of the consumer, and, at worst, exploitation of the poor. They encourage us to count the cost of our choices and be less passive as agents of consumption. It serves both ourselves and the world when we take responsibility for the consequences of our choices. Christopher and Riley make the case for more mindful use of resources and the richer life that can result from a higher awareness of our impact on the world and its impact on us.