A recent thought passed my eyes.
My attention arrested, I took note and thought…
I’ve heard this before.
No amount of regret changes the past.
No amount of anxiety changes the future.
But any amount of gratitude changes the present.
Yesterday is gone, tomorrow is out of sight, but today? I’m in charge of how I deal with what’s going on.
For example, I’m getting stuff done in town. A favorite chain store where I get “animal” stuff did not want me walking through the store with my shoulder bag hanging on my shoulder.
This bag is my church office. Computers, notes, checkbooks, personal details, and a zippered bag. I never leave it in my truck. The theft rate is high in my neck of the woods!
This bag goes with me everywhere when part of my day is church-focused.
I’ve learned something about myself. When asked to check the bag at the door or leave it in my truck, I say, “Thank you, no. This bag goes with me everywhere. If I can’t bring my bag, then you don’t get my business.”
After all, I see purses going by, over-stuffed jackets, and just about anything else you can imagine!
I am even willing to unzip the bag so they could see what I have did not contain anything that could harm anyone…
But they wouldn’t have it.
Listen. Be nice. Don’t huff and puff. The clerk is doing their job, and it’s not their fault. Be kind, that’s what we should do… Spend your dollars elsewhere.
The store chain’s problem is massive. Fraud. Five-finger discounts. Stolen merchandise. I understand. They keep raising their prices for all the negative things happening to them. And we have to pay for the consequences.
I’m not homeless, and the homeless camp across the parking lot has been moved far away.
So, due to the season and history, everything costs us sky-high dollars. With minimum wage being 20 times higher than the minimum when I was just a beginning worker, we are paying exorbitant prices.
What do I do? Buy judiciously, shop smartly, save the cost of gas and time, and shop online more.
Across the board, all anyone can do is pass the cost along. That’s all they can do. Right? Maybe. Who knows?
_______________________________________
“Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” (Matthew 6:34, KJV)
