Anyone who spends even a small amount of time each day on social media tends to see every current trend across the globe thrown at the faces for the entirety of their online stay. Many of these trends are harmless, such as various song and dance combinations or instructional recipe videos, but oftentimes they tend to get out of hand and cross the line between innocent fun and a need for genuine concern.
One of the most recent internet trends is the idea of adding “whismy” to everything in one’s daily life. The purpose of this is to make small things in life fun, lighthearted and enjoyable, much like the “magic” many people describe feeling during their childhoods, back when everything seemed simple and exciting.
The trend consists of adding gemstone stickers in various colors to everyday items, such as sheet masks, coffee cups and even one’s own skin to add color and sparkle to daily activities.
Many people have also taken up buying products that come with sparkles or beads mixed inside, adding edible glitter to their drinks and decorating their houses with whatever is named in the newest Buzzfeed promotional article (even though those articles are so fun, I know).
It seems as though in the great hunt for childhood magic, we got lost somewhere along the way and instead began to thrive merely on the adrenaline of spending, cluttering and polluting. We are on a constant hunt for comfort and nostalgia in a world that is so heavy and stressful. What could possibly be the harm in that?
Despite how harmless and fun this trend may feel, there is potential for damage in adding random bits of plastic and extra chemicals onto everyday items and into everyday activities. As we know, the constant production and consumption of plastic-based items is detrimental our planet’s overall wellbeing. It may seem as though these small additions could not possibly make things worse because it’s just you having some fun, but the problem with trends surrounding consumption and waste is that it’s not just you, it’s thousands of people following the leader.
The constant purchasing of plastic stickers, glitter, short-term decorations and all things flimsy and plastic add to the already-growing heaps of garbage taking up space on the earth. While it starts out with a few trinkets and little things around your house, it ends with those things inevitably breaking and ending up in a landfill.
This problem worsens especially when the things we consume are single use, such as the infamous gemstone stickers. In that case, they are being constantly bought only to be thrown away as soon as an hour or two later.
There is no reasonable justification for such activities, but we all want a little fun and sparkle in our lives, don’t we? What can be done to bring that childhood magic feeling back to us in our adult lives?
For starters, a thrift store is always the best place to start. Many young adults aim to find toys from their childhoods at thrift stores to collect or even save for their future children. These things bring back fond memories and make one feel a bit more collected to their young life.
Thrift stores also tend to frequently carry craft supplies such as colored construction paper and small trinkets and ornaments to decorate. Some towns even have craft-specific thrift stores where they only accept donations of beads, yarn, fabric, paper and more things used to create.
It is also important to note that while we chase the excitement of our youth, we do not need to focus only on ourselves. How much did you love getting a card in the mail as a young child? It is so easy nowadays to reach out online and find a pen pal who shares your interests. You can make small paper crafts, recipe cards, friendship bracelets or anything else that can fit in an envelope to swap with another lover of creativity. And, you guessed it, all of those things can be crafted sustainably.
So next time you see a trend on Instagram or TikTok of some new way to be wasteful, try deciding to be mindful of the planet we have around us. Go outside and admire the beauty of nature as opposed to the “beauty” of temporary trends for thrills. If you feel the need to create something magical, use or reuse what is around you and see what can come of it. It’s not only good for the planet – it’s good for your mind, too!
