Can't want

My 3-year-old grandson is currently saying: “I can’t want this.”

It occurred to me that many adults say: “I can’t not want this.”

We are programmed from early childhood to be consumers. We carry the fate of the American economy on our shoulders every Christmas season. If it’s the newest model, we must have it. If it has lots of bells and whistles, we have to get it. If the style moguls say we must wear it this season, we rush out and get it.

I’ve tried to practice saying, “I can't not want this.” It’s not always easy, but there’s a kind of satisfaction in it.