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No Buy Friday: A Day to Reclaim Our Power (and Maybe, Just Maybe, Our Sanity)
I have a confession.
My family and I love the convenience of Amazon. And we’re not alone. Our downstairs neighbor? Same story. The Amazon trucks have a well-worn path to our doorstep, practically part of the neighborhood scenery. There have been days when packages arrived before I even remembered ordering them—like some kind of modern-day magic.
And yet…
There’s something unsettling about how automatic it’s become. The one-click purchases, the never-ending stream of cardboard boxes, the sense that more is always just a tap away. That itch to buy, to accumulate, to solve an inconvenience with a shiny new thing—where does it come from? And more importantly, what would happen if we just… stopped?
On February 28, 2025, thousands of people will participate in No Buy Friday, a 24-Hour Economic Blackout designed to challenge the grip of consumer culture. For one day, we opt out. We refuse to feed the machine that tells us our happiness is just one more purchase away.
But this isn’t about deprivation. It’s about liberation.
Because No Buy Friday isn’t just about not buying—it’s about pausing. Reflecting. Reconnecting.
It’s about asking: What actually makes me happy? What truly adds value to my life?
It’s also about breaking free from some deeply ingrained cultural myths—what I call the Great Untruths (GUTs)—that have shaped our economy, our environment, and our very sense of self.
The Lies We’ve Been Sold (And Why It’s Time to Opt Out)
The world we live in wasn’t designed for sufficiency or sustainability. It was built on myths—stories that benefit corporations but rarely serve us or the planet.
Take a look at these four Great Untruths (GUTs) and see if they sound familiar:
"We Are Separate from Nature" (GUT #1)
We act as if we’re floating above the natural world, rather than deeply intertwined with it. Every time we buy something—whether it’s a gadget, a t-shirt, or a bottle of shampoo—we rarely stop to think about where it came from, what it’s made of, or where it will go when we’re done with it.
But nothing we consume is separate from nature. Every product started as raw materials extracted from the Earth. Every discarded item will outlive us in a landfill (or the ocean).
What if, instead of shopping, we spent No Buy Friday reconnecting with nature? A walk in the woods, barefoot in the grass, breathing in the air and realizing that this, this, is what we’ve been consuming to sustain our lives all along.
"More Is Always Better" (GUT #2 – The Core Theme of No Buy Friday)
This is the one that gets us every time. The lie that happiness is just one more purchase away. That we need the next upgrade, the latest fashion, the flashiest new gadget.
But when has that ever actually worked?
How many times have we bought something we thought would change our lives, only for it to end up gathering dust? How often do we fall into the dopamine trap of “Buy Now” and then feel… nothing?
Instead of chasing “more,” what if we spent this day being grateful for what we already have? What if, instead of scrolling through sales, we took an inventory of all the things in our life that already bring us joy?
"The Earth’s Resources Are Infinite" (GUT #3)
We shop like there’s an endless supply of everything—water, trees, minerals, labor. We throw things away like “away” is an actual place.
But the truth is, we are living on a planet with limits. Every unnecessary purchase contributes to waste, pollution, and depletion. The more we take, the less we leave for future generations.
What if, instead of shopping, we used this day to restore rather than consume? Repair something. Donate something. Or simply sit with the understanding that enough is already here.
"Technology Will Save Us" (GUT #4)
We’ve been sold the idea that the right invention, the next innovation, the perfect “green” solution will fix everything. But tech can’t save us from a mindset of excess and exploitation.
No amount of “sustainable” products will make up for a system built on infinite growth on a finite planet.
Real change starts when we stop looking for an external fix and start shifting how we live.
Which brings us to the Great Truths—the ideas that can help guide us into a different kind of future.
Introducing the Great Truths (GTs): A Sneak Peek
Saying no to corporate-driven consumerism is just the first step. The real shift comes when we start embracing The Great Truths—principles that reconnect us with what actually matters.
We’ll be exploring these deeply in upcoming One Cause articles—follow along here:https://wbradfordswift.substack.com/t/1-cause
Here’s a glimpse:
GREAT TRUTH #1: Interconnectedness – We Are Nature—Not Separate, But OneGREAT TRUTH #2: Sufficiency – There Is Enough—When We Remember How to ShareGREAT TRUTH #3: Reciprocity – Reciprocity Is the Law of LifeGREAT TRUTH#4: Stewardship – Humanity’s Role Is to Care, Not Control
No Buy Friday is a chance to live these truths, even if just for a day.
How to Make No Buy Friday a Day of Gratitude & Reconnection
* Commit to Not Buying Anything from Major Corporations. Opt out of Amazon, Walmart, and other corporate retailers for the day.
* Practice Gratitude. Take an inventory of what you already have. Write down five things you’re grateful for—big or small.
* Go for a Walk in Nature. Experience the wealth that’s always been there, beyond price tags and checkout carts.
* Find Creative Alternatives. Borrow a book instead of buying one. Cook with what’s in your kitchen. Make something instead of ordering it.
* Spread the Word. Share your experience, invite others to join, and use the hashtag #NoBuyFriday to connect with the movement.
Final Thought: This Is Just the Beginning
One day won’t change everything. But it’s a start.
It’s a chance to pause. To reflect. To remember that we are more than what we consume.
And maybe, just maybe, it’s a step toward something bigger.
Join us in this conversation as we continue to explore what a post-consumerist, regenerative future looks like.
Follow One Cause for more: https://wbradfordswift.substack.com/t/1-cause
🚨 SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT! 🚨
This Friday, February 28 at 12 PM ET, I’m going LIVE on both Substack and TikTok to continue the No Buy Friday conversation!
We’ll talk about what’s really behind our culture of consumption, how the "More is Always Better" myth drives our choices, and what it means to break free.
Join me and let’s challenge these stories together.
📅 Set a reminder & mark your calendar!📝 Substack Live → Right here on One Cause🎥 TikTok Live → Follow me at @authorwbradfordswift
See you there!
Your Turn
What do you think? Are you in favor of No Buy Friday? Do you plan to participate by not buying from any corporate business? How else are you going to participate. Comment below.
Then share this with others. Let this be the ‘shot heard around the world.’
Join me as an Eco-Guardian by subscribing. Free is great. Paid even better. It’ll provide me with additional resources for sharing this important message. Thanks
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wbradfordswift.substack.com/subscribe
View all episodes
By Listen to the call of the Earth and take action.I have a confession.
My family and I love the convenience of Amazon. And we’re not alone. Our downstairs neighbor? Same story. The Amazon trucks have a well-worn path to our doorstep, practically part of the neighborhood scenery. There have been days when packages arrived before I even remembered ordering them—like some kind of modern-day magic.
And yet…
There’s something unsettling about how automatic it’s become. The one-click purchases, the never-ending stream of cardboard boxes, the sense that more is always just a tap away. That itch to buy, to accumulate, to solve an inconvenience with a shiny new thing—where does it come from? And more importantly, what would happen if we just… stopped?
On February 28, 2025, thousands of people will participate in No Buy Friday, a 24-Hour Economic Blackout designed to challenge the grip of consumer culture. For one day, we opt out. We refuse to feed the machine that tells us our happiness is just one more purchase away.
But this isn’t about deprivation. It’s about liberation.
Because No Buy Friday isn’t just about not buying—it’s about pausing. Reflecting. Reconnecting.
It’s about asking: What actually makes me happy? What truly adds value to my life?
It’s also about breaking free from some deeply ingrained cultural myths—what I call the Great Untruths (GUTs)—that have shaped our economy, our environment, and our very sense of self.
The Lies We’ve Been Sold (And Why It’s Time to Opt Out)
The world we live in wasn’t designed for sufficiency or sustainability. It was built on myths—stories that benefit corporations but rarely serve us or the planet.
Take a look at these four Great Untruths (GUTs) and see if they sound familiar:
"We Are Separate from Nature" (GUT #1)
We act as if we’re floating above the natural world, rather than deeply intertwined with it. Every time we buy something—whether it’s a gadget, a t-shirt, or a bottle of shampoo—we rarely stop to think about where it came from, what it’s made of, or where it will go when we’re done with it.
But nothing we consume is separate from nature. Every product started as raw materials extracted from the Earth. Every discarded item will outlive us in a landfill (or the ocean).
What if, instead of shopping, we spent No Buy Friday reconnecting with nature? A walk in the woods, barefoot in the grass, breathing in the air and realizing that this, this, is what we’ve been consuming to sustain our lives all along.
"More Is Always Better" (GUT #2 – The Core Theme of No Buy Friday)
This is the one that gets us every time. The lie that happiness is just one more purchase away. That we need the next upgrade, the latest fashion, the flashiest new gadget.
But when has that ever actually worked?
How many times have we bought something we thought would change our lives, only for it to end up gathering dust? How often do we fall into the dopamine trap of “Buy Now” and then feel… nothing?
Instead of chasing “more,” what if we spent this day being grateful for what we already have? What if, instead of scrolling through sales, we took an inventory of all the things in our life that already bring us joy?
"The Earth’s Resources Are Infinite" (GUT #3)
We shop like there’s an endless supply of everything—water, trees, minerals, labor. We throw things away like “away” is an actual place.
But the truth is, we are living on a planet with limits. Every unnecessary purchase contributes to waste, pollution, and depletion. The more we take, the less we leave for future generations.
What if, instead of shopping, we used this day to restore rather than consume? Repair something. Donate something. Or simply sit with the understanding that enough is already here.
"Technology Will Save Us" (GUT #4)
We’ve been sold the idea that the right invention, the next innovation, the perfect “green” solution will fix everything. But tech can’t save us from a mindset of excess and exploitation.
No amount of “sustainable” products will make up for a system built on infinite growth on a finite planet.
Real change starts when we stop looking for an external fix and start shifting how we live.
Which brings us to the Great Truths—the ideas that can help guide us into a different kind of future.
Introducing the Great Truths (GTs): A Sneak Peek
Saying no to corporate-driven consumerism is just the first step. The real shift comes when we start embracing The Great Truths—principles that reconnect us with what actually matters.
We’ll be exploring these deeply in upcoming One Cause articles—follow along here:https://wbradfordswift.substack.com/t/1-cause
Here’s a glimpse:
GREAT TRUTH #1: Interconnectedness – We Are Nature—Not Separate, But OneGREAT TRUTH #2: Sufficiency – There Is Enough—When We Remember How to ShareGREAT TRUTH #3: Reciprocity – Reciprocity Is the Law of LifeGREAT TRUTH#4: Stewardship – Humanity’s Role Is to Care, Not Control
No Buy Friday is a chance to live these truths, even if just for a day.
How to Make No Buy Friday a Day of Gratitude & Reconnection
* Commit to Not Buying Anything from Major Corporations. Opt out of Amazon, Walmart, and other corporate retailers for the day.
* Practice Gratitude. Take an inventory of what you already have. Write down five things you’re grateful for—big or small.
* Go for a Walk in Nature. Experience the wealth that’s always been there, beyond price tags and checkout carts.
* Find Creative Alternatives. Borrow a book instead of buying one. Cook with what’s in your kitchen. Make something instead of ordering it.
* Spread the Word. Share your experience, invite others to join, and use the hashtag #NoBuyFriday to connect with the movement.
Final Thought: This Is Just the Beginning
One day won’t change everything. But it’s a start.
It’s a chance to pause. To reflect. To remember that we are more than what we consume.
And maybe, just maybe, it’s a step toward something bigger.
Join us in this conversation as we continue to explore what a post-consumerist, regenerative future looks like.
Follow One Cause for more: https://wbradfordswift.substack.com/t/1-cause
🚨 SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT! 🚨
This Friday, February 28 at 12 PM ET, I’m going LIVE on both Substack and TikTok to continue the No Buy Friday conversation!
We’ll talk about what’s really behind our culture of consumption, how the "More is Always Better" myth drives our choices, and what it means to break free.
Join me and let’s challenge these stories together.
📅 Set a reminder & mark your calendar!📝 Substack Live → Right here on One Cause🎥 TikTok Live → Follow me at @authorwbradfordswift
See you there!
Your Turn
What do you think? Are you in favor of No Buy Friday? Do you plan to participate by not buying from any corporate business? How else are you going to participate. Comment below.
Then share this with others. Let this be the ‘shot heard around the world.’
Join me as an Eco-Guardian by subscribing. Free is great. Paid even better. It’ll provide me with additional resources for sharing this important message. Thanks
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wbradfordswift.substack.com/subscribe