There was an interesting article in Business Week this week. It talked about a growing number of books about people who had started only buying what was necessary. (Sounds quite Zen really.) And it claimed at the same time that this was consumption’s opposite.

I would have thought that the opposite of consumption was giving, opening the heart if you will, generosity even charity, finding time, money and space for others. Being present is a generous spirit, don’t you think?

Yet, all this consumption has created so much debt. Perhaps generosity can be put off until the debt is repaid. The curious thought in here is not that it is better to give than to receive but that an open heart is magnetic. So why put it off? Perhaps our consumer watchers might spot a trend in the opening of hearts?