Breaking it down

“It did what all ads are supposed to do: create an anxiety relievable by purchase.”
― David Foster Wallace


Here's a game Miss C and I sometimes play, to make maneuvering through the grocery store a little easier:


How do I feel when I see this?
What does this ad/display want me to feel?
Did it work?
What does the feeling make me want to do?


Most of the time it works. 
It makes me feel: I want. 
It makes me want: to buy now.


I don't know if playing the game helps her, but it helps me.  She reminds me, "We came here for blueberries, remember?"   And I put back the two utterly unnecessary things that are not blueberries.  Then promptly forget that I needed them as soon as I exit the store. 
We go home and eat blueberries and they are utterly delicious.