KenyaOnAShoeString: Real Advice for Real Kenyans

There was a time when human life unfolded in quiet rhythms — milestones marked by intimacy, community, and modesty. A wedding was about two families uniting, a birthday meant cake and laughter, a funeral meant gathering to console and honor. Today, nearly every aspect of life has become commercialized, commodified , and packaged as a product. The question is: How did we get here, and what has this gradual shift done to us as individuals and as a society? A Brief History: From Simplicity to Spectacle The commercialization of life didn’t happen overnight. In the early 20th century, advertising was simple — selling soap, cigarettes, or clothes. But as marketing grew more sophisticated, it shifted from selling products to selling dreams . You weren’t just buying a ring — you were buying love. You weren’t just buying a car — you were buying status. By the 1980s and 90s, globalization and media pushed this even further. Imported images of “ideal weddings,” “dream homes,” and “perfect li...