The Real Housewives

Here we see the Housewife in her natural habitat, a glass of wine pinched between her long slender fingers showing off her manicured (often fake) nails and blinding rings. We see the attention to detail in her bleach blond choif no doubt straightened and sprayed with an interesting array of toxic fixatives. Housewives in this region are often seen wearing Prada, Gucci and Vuitton, often spending thousands of dollars for petrol-derived fabrics and materials. A rare breed, these women are often associated with a self-centred nature and inability to see beyond the gates of their community of million dollar mansions and lifestyle of leisure. This is a stellar find, ladies and gentlemen, a rare glimpse into the lives of these ellusive creatures.



I don't know why I enjoy watching The Real Housewives of Orange County. I laugh at them. Make fun of their selfish children and get a genuine kick out of their stunned faces when any adversity comes their way. Maybe it's my replacement for gossip. Rather than people in real life bearing the brunt of my scorn, I feel no guilt lavishing judgement on these horrendously self-centred women. Call me crazy but given the fact that they signed up for this gig, a job made from being in the spotlight, something tells me they are just dying for attention, good or bad, ergo I do not have to feel guilty.

When I think about it though, this show can be very depressing as well. Here I am, and many others in the voluntary simplicity movement, are making significant changes in our lifestyles to lesson the burden of over consumption on our planet. We "simple people" are foregoing gigantic houses, room-size closets and oddles of bling in an attempt to make a difference in our world. It's show's like this that really put the spotlight on the sabotoagging efforts of others. It goes back to that old quote:

Live simply that others might simply live.

~Elizabeth Seaton

I am under no illusions though. I realize that my choices do not directly benefit have not's in this world. The meat I do not buy is not sent to starving children. The designer clothes I choose to do without do not end up warming someone in need. I make these simple choices for the bigger picture. By not eating supermarket meat, I am telling farming corporations that I would rather eat grains and legumes. By saying no to diamonds from the Congo I am directly refusing to participate in the strife in that region. By making these choices I am creating an effect. Albeit a relatively small effect however if my choices influence the choices of others (through this blog and the relationships I have in real life) it can have an amazing effect on our world over our lifetime.

There will always be high maintenance people, people who chant "Because I deserve it" in their heads whenever guilt over their consumption strikes them. There will always be gluttonous people who think nothing of the effect their purchasing habits has. I can not stop my beliefs because I meet an adversary. I will not stop these changes because the task seems so impossible. I say let these women have their bling, their vacations, their spray on tans, I want a real life, a true existence whether my efforts matter to them or not.