Being 'All In
My journey as a boycotter has its ups and downs, and I can state with great confidence that I am doing as well as can be expected. Because I’ve been well-entrenched in the world of consumerism since birth, I know that my decisions about what to buy, where to buy it, and how to break out of a habit of mindless spending will take a while. I am patient. I love it when I see any bit of progress, not only in my actual behaviors, but also in those around me. One of my proudest moments was Mother’s Day when my daughter Noni told me that once she realized that the gift she bought, a set of knives, was a product made by a company that “was on your [boycott] list” she rushed back to return it and replace it with another gift. As the representative for all three of my kids, she took this task of gift-buying very seriously. I am incredibly moved by this gesture by my children to honor my practice of steering clear from the companies whose products I boycott.
As I’ve mentioned in my last post, everyone’s journey, should they embark on one, will be different. But I have noticed along the way that there are some who express guilt or shame about shopping for products or at certain stores targeted by boycott groups. There also are those who react to boycotting with anger because of the extent of time and inconvenience such practices create in their lives. . . and they may ask, in good conscience, will it even work?
As far as the guilty ones, I repeat what I’ve written before: one day at a time. No one should feel judged because there are so many circumstances that surround our spending habits. Spending money is a practice, even a habit to many, that can be psychologically complicated --- as in realizing that certain products or stores have become equated with positive feelings (as in “I feel good shopping at ______,” or “Going to ______ is something that’s special to me and my grandfather”). I’ve met many who swear by certain products and would be hard-pressed to give them up).
We’ve been socialized as shoppers. Shopping can be equated with status, wealth, and desirability. We all know people who over-buy, even to excess. These excursions in shopping may even provide us with happiness. I am the first to admit that it has been so for me!
However, learning about the abuses that go along with how companies operate has led me to take a step-by-step journey to shop differently. Understanding my own spending habits is intertwined in this journey. For me, learning over time to spend less has been a great benefit.
For those who become angry about the whole idea of boycotting, I say, let’s hear them out. As much as I abhor conflict, I find myself becoming more and more willing to listen and learn firsthand about their complaints. Yes, it is true that not all boycotts work. And yes, starting a movement to boycott certain services and products can result in people spending more time and money going out of their way for alternatives.
And yes, trying new products has its risks; our lives have been made easier by the tried-and-true, therefore it is absolutely annoying when some boycotters scold people for maintaining their spending habits and thereby, falling in line with companies who can count on their patronage.
No arguments or ill feelings. When I listen, and I mean really listen, I learn that in many cases, there are all sorts of ways people show that they are “all in,” thereby voicing their concerns about corporate abuses through letter-writing, boycotts, direct complaints, and so forth. Some already have committed to avoiding certain products or stores, but choose to maintain their patronage in other corporations. But the primary THRILL in having these conversations is that there are many who have the rebellious spirit and who show it in many different ways. This resistance is healthy, a sign of “radical healing” and over the course of our lives, we will experience all kinds of changes that can lead to a more generalized sense of health ---- the healing of the soul and spirit. The sort of health that speaks to our connection to the broader humanity.
I know there are no easy answers. But in terms of being “all-in,” I feel less helpless when I do the readings, attend the seminars and talks, and ask people a lot of questions.
As I continue along the path of my journey in boycotting, here’s my ultimate two-fold goal: to spend my money more sparingly, and to direct my shopping and investing solely to the retailers, grocers, artisans, and so forth, who proudly embrace the values I have on human rights and civil liberties.
Oh, and there’s a third goal: to live more in the present through achieving a sense of consciousness. This is the spiritual part of my journey which underlines all of it.
