Hello and welcome to another episode of the Perception Podcast with me your host Caroline Partridge. In today's episode, I talk with passionate outfluencer and queen of sustainability Anna Kilpatrick. Anna shares her views on how we have become drunk on convenience and consumerism and how society's orgy of consumption is not only polluting the planet but driving us to live increasingly out of sync with the natural rhythm of nature. We discuss how buying new things is entangled with the idea of happiness and how to look for happiness in other places. Anna also talks about the life changing events that forced her to reframe her existence and how we can make the best of what we have. So please join me as we look at life through a well worn lens.  KEY TAKEAWAYS Consumer culture links buying new things with happiness and makes contentment elusive Traumatic events forced Anna to reframe her existence and realise she can be happy with less Visible mending and buying second-hand first respects craftsmanship and saves resources Feel grateful daily for basics we take for granted like running water and electricity Focus on spending time with loved ones rather than acquiring more possessions Try new hobbies like walking and cold water swimming to stimulate dopamine instead of shopping Remember that no one's final words are wishing they'd bought more stuff BEST MOMENTS "We got drunk and we got to sober up because I think it's exactly right." "Nobody utters in their final sentence, I wish I'd bought more stuff. No. Do they?" "If somebody loves you, the biggest gift that they can get you is actually being with you and spending time with you." "We ploughed ourselves into financial oblivion, but we're still here. We've done it, haven't we?" "You have probably already got all the things you need in the way that, as human beings, we already have enough clothes to clothe the next five or six generations of people." "This is the best there is. It's all right. It's raining. You're having cornflakes. You're in a tent." "Try second hand first. It's so amazing what you can find."   ABOUT THE GUEST Anna Kilpatrick started the Instagram account @not.needing.new to document her exclusive use of second-hand clothing and homeware over the past twelve years as a single parent on a very limited budget. She is very interested in ideas around satiation and in finding the joy in realising what is enough. Anna is represented by Curtis Brown and is researching for a book about our relationship with fashion and how we have got to the point that we are now at.    Socials & Contact   Website: https://www.notneedingnew.com/ Instagram is https://www.instagram.com/not.needing.new Linktree: not.needing.new | Instagram | Linktree    CONTACT METHOD FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/caropartridge LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/caroline-partridge-03131520 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/partridge_caroline