A follow up post from how working in retail practically wrecked my marriage. Now that everyone is back to work this Monday morning and I have had the weekend to think about exactly what it means to shop only on the weekdays, I have come to a few conclusions.
The first conclusion is that what I propose, can be accomplished.
We just have to change what we place value in and stop and think about what we are really okay with and what we are not. Our world is the way it is because we accept it for what it is. We don’t ask our world to change.
The fat, lazy humans in Wall-E
Just because there is a drive thru, doesn’t mean we have to use it.
Just because things are becoming easier and easier, does not mean that we cannot choose to do things the “hard way.”
To save ourselves and our planet, we must make some changes to the way we think and behave – to the way we live our lives.
We did not always work this hard. There was a time when only one person worked to provide for a household, historically that was the man, but in today’s culture it could just as easily be the woman who is the provider, that is if anyone is staying home at all given my other suggestion that we all simply work less. Think about the impact that could have on families, on crime rates, on our health, our happiness . . . our lives.
We need a culture that focuses on living life and doing a little bit of work to keep it going. There is enough unemployment that if the work is “shared” that everyone could have a job.
I’m sure some of you have even taken on the jobs of others who were laid off. How much work are you doing? The work of two, three people? How much slack are you picking up? And even more importantly, is it stressing you out? Taking years off of your life.
Even if this is not happening to you, I know that personally I can think of several people who this is happening to – and in supposedly “good” companies too.
There is plenty of work, plenty of money and plenty of resources – for everyone.
In no way am I suggesting communism, in fact the income structure of our economy is worthy of a post all its own, which will undoubtedly come in the future.
In the context of when you should be shopping or spending money for the purpose of restructuring when our culture feels working is acceptable. Latin cultures for example work in the morning and take a midday nap or siesta to refresh, and eat dinner much later at night.
What I am trying to explain is that, just because this is the way we do it, does not mean that it has to be the way we do it. It is important that we find something that works better for everyone. Something where all people have time to themselves to spend time with the ones they love. And to do so we have to see that when we utilize someone’s services, when they are there working, they are not home with their family.
If businesses are open for 5 1/2 days and people are only working 4 days, there is still plenty of time for everyone to be an active participant in this system, without being left behind.
Even shift workers, like firemen, doctors and nurses who by the very nature of their jobs have varying schedules, would benefit from these suggestions.
This is when I will shop:
Monday to Friday: during normal business hours
Saturdays: Until 1pm
Sundays: NEVER
Now, I know. Those hours seem familiar don’t they? Closed on Sundays? A day of rest?
Growing up, my parents, or should I say my Dad was super religious. So much that I was not even allowed to call friends on Sundays. Now, I could care less about religious affiliations, but what I do know is – we have to start slowing back down. If even just a little bit.
Forgive me if the song gets into your head after this, but I have to quote Rascall Flatts and say that:
Sometimes it feels like this world is spinning faster
Than it did in the old days
So naturally, we have more natural disasters
From the strain of a fast pace
Sunday was a day of rest
Now, it’s one more day for progress
And we can’t slow down ’cause more is best
It’s all an endless process
I chose Sunday as a day not to shop at all, because many businesses are already closed on Sundays and it is easier to integrate the habit if it is something people are already somewhat used to doing.
Say, Sunday is the only day you avoid shopping, for whatever reason. Make the change. Would it really be that hard to do? Or are you just going to make excuses?
Less work and more living is good for everyone. Go ahead, click the link. You know you want to. It delves into the subject just a little more, and even better, supports what I am telling you.
Who knows, maybe we could get to the point where everyone works, but everyone is working four days a week, with three days off. And really, who cares which three days as long as at least one of them is the same for everyone – and why not Sunday?
If for any reason you found this post confusing go check out: How working in retail practically wrecked my marriage.
