Bonnie’s ‘Retail Therapy’ session went quite well; she visited the local
mall for her fix of new lip-butter, as well as a pair of new obnoxious but cute
earrings. Nothing beats spending money to forget about your troubles, she thought
with a smile!
They
do not call Shopping ‘Retail Therapy’ for nothing. There seem to be positive
consequences to buying oneself a small treat: one really does feel better!!
When
it comes to Shopping, what do you like? A gang of friends meeting over lunch
and going for a movie and then piling up shopping bags? Or sitting in the
comfort of your home-couch and surfing online for the best deals! I say both,
when it comes to spending money and buying happiness! But definitely meeting up
with your friends, your favourite relative who knows all the latest trends, a
co-worker –friend you haven’t caught up with in quite some time or just you and
your bestie doing a city round-about.. doing a one month of catching-up together
or maybe just on your own, picking up all that you ‘think’ you need; going into a shopping spree and being
materialistic for a while can make you feel how weightless life is, so full of
simple, pure joy!
People
shop for various reasons. Sometimes they are hunting for self-fulfilment and
other times it is just for or with other people. People shop when they feel a
need, real or imagined. People shop for emotional reasons, people shop to start
a new life- when they get married, move into a house or are planning kids. They
shop to ‘catch up with the Joneses’ and other times, to be the ‘Joneses’. They
shop for fun and they shop for time-pass when loitering in the mall is all they
can think of while waiting for a friend that never shows up on time! Apart from
all these types, there is another type of shopping. The one which is not an end
in itself but the means to an end; which is- the need to be happy, to fill a
void, to make up for a low self-image or to get over old memories and stuff by
bringing in the new. This is called ‘binge’ or emotional shopping and is to be
avoided at all costs. My personal revelation is: Shopping is like alcohol. It
gives you a high and is good for you, if done in moderation!
The
brick-and-mortar experience of shopping is an age-old one but it has not gone out
of vogue. It’s social, it’s fun! E-shopping may save you money and give you the
excitement of surfing and looking for the best deals to suit your pocket, but
somehow I believe, even as e-markets are flattening out our world and bringing
in a fold of global products to our doorsteps, I enjoy an offline experience of
shopping a lot more than the online version and here’s why!
1.
It
allows you a three dimensional product experience.
2.
Lots of “Do I look fat in this?” type
questions.
3.
“What
an ass that is!” (Ass can be used both as a compliment and in exasperation! ;))
4.
Playing
with colours and textures!
5.
Dressing
up.
6.
The
occasional friendly banter and stupid jokes!
7.
“Can
you give us a demo!”
8.
Beauty
with functionality, choosing the right product.
9.
You
want it, you can go get it!
10. And if you are a regular
customer, you are asked if you’d like some coffee!
That list of points, my friends,
is your deal maker! Online or Offline.. as long as you do it in moderation, my
mantra for you is: Go Shop-hopping when the pang strikes! Stay Happy! Live
Happy! God bless
Divya
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