Liz Everett, Campus Editor

“Live simply, that others may simply live.” -Mother Teresa

“I’m gonna pop some tags, only got twenty dollars in my pocket…” -Macklemore, “Thrift Shop”

What does it mean for our generation to live simply? There seem to be a myriad of opposing viewpoints, even concerning one piece of art, such as the song “Thrift Shop” by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis (featuring Wanz). The song and its content have become somewhat of a cultural icon; thrift shops are cool and trendy, a cheap and easy way to stand out and be different, which seems to be at odds with the musicians’ original intent. In an interview with MTV News, Macklemore talked about his motivations for the song and why he thinks it has become so popular––it’s something different from the norm.

“Rappers talk about, oh I buy this and I buy that, and I spend this much money and I make it rain, and this type of champagne and painting the club, and this is the kind of record that’s the exact opposite,” he said. “It’s the polar opposite of it. It’s kind of standing for like, let’s save some money, let’s keep some money away, let’s spend as little as possible and look as fresh as possible at the same time.”

Many have embraced this theme of looking “as fresh as possible” on a budget, including the Notre Dame student body for specific theme parties or SYRs. The clothing racks at thrift shops in the South Bend area, including Goodwill, St. Vincent de Paul Society and Salvation Army, are perused throughout the year for vintage Notre Dame gear and various pieces of outlandish clothing for all theme-party needs. Perhaps over the next couple of weeks when you’re desperately trying to figure out what to wear for Halloween, you’ll think twice before buying a ridiculously over-priced pre-made costume from the store (which, in all likelihood, at least five other people will be wearing on the same night) and opt for a more DIY approach. I do not pretend to be removed from these practices, and do not see anything wrong with them.

But maybe a little more can be gleaned from this new culture of thrifting than just cheap, crazy outfits. Maybe it can point to a deeper desire for simpler living, and a recognition that we are not defined by the dollar value of the clothes we wear. Partaking in thrift shopping, being on both the giving and receiving end, fosters a sense of community and relationship with others through material things.

What does it mean to live simply? As the quotation at the beginning suggests, living simply is not an individual action; it is the beginning of a relationship. “Live simply, that others may simply live.” This quotation has been attributed to several people, most popularly Mother Teresa, Mahatma Gandhi, and Henry David Thoreau. Regardless of the original author, it is fitting that it has spanned many time periods and cultures, many different walks of life, from a poor nun in India to an American author and philosopher.

Donating clothes that we haven’t worn in a while or that no longer fit takes very little personal sacrifice, except for time, but can mean a world of difference to someone on the receiving end. When I was younger, just as fall was giving up its ground to winter, my mom would take my siblings and I to the store to pick out a new child’s coat to donate. Then, we were not just giving something old and unwanted; we were giving our best. Now, as we browse the racks looking for that perfectly bizarre neon jacket for the upcoming SYR, it is sometimes difficult to remember that many people browse those same racks for their basic clothing needs. For some, it is not just a way to look “fresh” and unique, but a way of life––a way to fulfill the material needs of a family.

No matter what our relationship with them is like (whether we buy or donate), thrift shops seek to invest in the community by providing goods and services, such as food, clothing, employment opportunities and job training, to lower-income families. The St. Vincent de Paul Society has a large presence in the South Bend community, providing food, clothing and furniture assistance, emergency financial assistance and the Christmas Basket Outreach Program, which provides gift baskets to hundreds of families who might normally have no other gifts during the Christmas season. The proceeds from its thrift stores go to helping families in the local community. Its slogan: “Do good for your wallet and your community.”

Being at a place like Notre Dame sometimes makes it hard to live simply, especially if you’ve ever taken a trip to the bookstore or eaten a meal at the dining hall. We are surrounded by so much beauty and wealth, and for the most part, this is a blessing, a wonderful thing. But there is also the mindset that everything we do and own and surround ourselves with should be bigger and better and grander and newer. I think we should be wary of this attitude not only because of how it will affect us, but also because of how it will affect others, how it will affect our community.

The large majority of us at Notre Dame have been given the choice of whether to live simply or not; but for most people, shopping at secondhand stores or foregoing the fastest and newest is not a necessity.

But our choice could have a very important impact on where and how we choose to invest meaning and success in our lives.

Liz Everett is a senior PLS and English major living in McGlinn. She wishes all her classes could be outside in the sun. To talk more about living simply, or if you ever want to go thrifting, contact her at eeveret1@nd.edu.