Rachel Webster

As we reconvened outside, that's when everyone noticed I was empty-handed. I couldn't do it. I couldn't do it. I couldn't do it. I was like, this is so heavy. I hate it. I don't want it.

As we reconvened outside, that's when everyone noticed I was empty-handed. I couldn't do it. I couldn't do it. I couldn't do it. I was like, this is so heavy. I hate it. I don't want it.

I couldn't.

I couldn't.

I hate buying stuff. I know. It stresses me out.

I hate buying stuff. I know. It stresses me out.

Anyway. I wish I had that disease.

Anyway. I wish I had that disease.

I think there was just so much of like me trying to make myself like happy.

I think there was just so much of like me trying to make myself like happy.

Shopping isn't our favorite thing, but we've been so accustomed to doing it that we struggle to think about it critically, and we have for decades. As early as 1970, the late radical feminist Ellen Willis wrote an essay in defense of women who shop, which could have easily been written today.

Shopping isn't our favorite thing, but we've been so accustomed to doing it that we struggle to think about it critically, and we have for decades. As early as 1970, the late radical feminist Ellen Willis wrote an essay in defense of women who shop, which could have easily been written today.

Five years into what would become known as a forever war that would cost America $2 trillion in taxpayer money, George Bush addressed the nation.

Five years into what would become known as a forever war that would cost America $2 trillion in taxpayer money, George Bush addressed the nation.

For the entirety of our lives, we have been told that our very survival as a nation depends on this ever-growing market, this ever-growing pursuit of objects.

For the entirety of our lives, we have been told that our very survival as a nation depends on this ever-growing market, this ever-growing pursuit of objects.

These cheap goods, the ones we think we can afford, they come at a much higher price than what's on the red tag.

These cheap goods, the ones we think we can afford, they come at a much higher price than what's on the red tag.

But we also managed to get something that we did need while we spent a few hours roaming the aisles of TJ Maxx. Because we need connection.

But we also managed to get something that we did need while we spent a few hours roaming the aisles of TJ Maxx. Because we need connection.