Although my last two blogs were about shopping, my friend M* brought up a good point.... why am I shopping at WalMart? I know better that to shop there. And I must admit that I was embarassed when M* pointed it out! So, I had to do some thinking about this. Why do I and other folks shop at a place that we know undercuts competition, shorts their employees on overtime, doesn't provide health care coverage, and forces suppliers to sell their products to WalMart at a lower price than they will sell it elsewhere?
My first impluse was to say that it is because the prices are so low - and with all of the burden of paying the mortgage, taxes, etc... by myself, I have to cut corners wherever I can. But I basically went on a spree.. So it isn't cutting corners when I spend more because Iimpulse buy than I would if I paid a little more per item at another store and really only purchased what I walked into the store to purchase. And this is a very self centered way of viewing and doing things.
My next thought was that WalMart was close to work.... but no - Longs is closer.
My third thought was that maybe this says something about actually living what I say that I believe.
ouch.
Yup - walking the talk --- is a lot harder than it seems.
So, I think that I need to reevaluate what it is that I believe in --- not shopping at WalMart is only one of many --- and decide what I am willing to sacrifice for my beliefs. Am I willing to sacrifice paying higher prices at another store even when money is tight? Am I willing to invest in companies that has business philosiphies that match my values - even though I may get a lower ROI? Do I really believe in the things that I say that I believe in? Just saying that I believe in something doesn't make it so.
Hmmm... maybe there was some value in my shopping trip to WalMart after all...
My first impluse was to say that it is because the prices are so low - and with all of the burden of paying the mortgage, taxes, etc... by myself, I have to cut corners wherever I can. But I basically went on a spree.. So it isn't cutting corners when I spend more because Iimpulse buy than I would if I paid a little more per item at another store and really only purchased what I walked into the store to purchase. And this is a very self centered way of viewing and doing things.
My next thought was that WalMart was close to work.... but no - Longs is closer.
My third thought was that maybe this says something about actually living what I say that I believe.
ouch.
Yup - walking the talk --- is a lot harder than it seems.
So, I think that I need to reevaluate what it is that I believe in --- not shopping at WalMart is only one of many --- and decide what I am willing to sacrifice for my beliefs. Am I willing to sacrifice paying higher prices at another store even when money is tight? Am I willing to invest in companies that has business philosiphies that match my values - even though I may get a lower ROI? Do I really believe in the things that I say that I believe in? Just saying that I believe in something doesn't make it so.
Hmmm... maybe there was some value in my shopping trip to WalMart after all...
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