I want to support small businesses, and I have tried on more than one occasion. I found the perfect shirt for my best friend from an independent cartoonist that we both like a lot. The shirt was $26.99, which is not cheap, but doable. The problem was that the seller wanted an additional $16.99 to ship it. It is just too much for me to pay $44 for one T-shirt. To me, the single biggest impediment to small businesses is the fact that they don't get the bulk shipping deals that big companies get and it puts things out of reach.
I think that commercialism is something I've always heard as an issue at this time of year and I'm 60 so it's been a topic for decades. However, we all get to make our own traditions and to find meaning in our own way. We don't have to buy into existing notions or expectations, but most people aren't buying tons of crap at Christmas out of obligation. They're doing it for the dopamine rush of buying things and using the holiday as an excuse to indulge themselves more than usual.
I get the reaction to high shipping costs as a consumer. We're so conditioned to free shipping (thanks Amazon) that it feels jarring whenever we see shipping costs tacked on. However, as a former small business owner, I understand the shipping costs. We could not offer free shipping. We couldn't even lower shipping costs and eat part of the costs since we would lose money. As it was, we lost money on shipping supplies like boxes and padding which is necessary to ship cookies, but we couldn't afford to tack on handling fees, not to mention the time it took to pack the items and take them to the post office. With shipping costs increasing each year, it just got too unsustainable. And yes, I agree that it's one of the biggest impediments for small businesses. But this is directly the result of big box corporations normalizing free shipping. It's frustrating.
Love this. I grew up in retail / family business, and I remember simultaneously loving the season and also feeling how busy and important it was for my parents from Halloween until New Years. Wishing you a peaceful end of the year!
I do wonder how the kids will look back at this time. I felt a lot of guilt as a parent, but I don't think they remember the time as being neglected lol. I guess I should be grateful for kids' limited memories of certain things.
oh those cookies were so good! My relationship to gifts and the holidays is bizarre, and I won't go into it now, but this year I've been just buying one good thing for my small extended family. Like a book I read. Its all books. I do really enjoy gifting, but rarely have money to do it well. In truth, I've been buying gifts since October so we could afford it. The kids still have a couple years of holiday fun, and for me, that is enjoyable. Once my MIL is moved into her senior facility tomorrow (omg tomorrow) I can slow down and drink some hot cocoa and make gingerbreads. My kids always look forward to the small things: the movies we watch, the cookie parade I insist on, board games. I think there is a lesson there I need to remember 8)
I’m thinking of you as you move your MIL into her senior facility. I know how tough it is. After the initial shock, I hope it brings some peace and relief into your life. 💕
Thank you...it was something. I am so grateful for all the staff there who just said "we'll take it from here, go home". I think it will be good, but I know there is an adjustment period.
Celebrations and important rituals usually brings contradictions like joy and nostalgia and sometimes grief. For me the lunar new year will hit much harder with memories and grief, since celebrating Christmas here and generally all the December vibe is still newish in relation to my life's history.
It's such a blessing to be able to see life from both sides of the same window. The entrepreneur and the consumer. The packed house and the empty nest. The busy schedule and the boredom. Most people only see life from where they are at the moment.
Coincidentally, I was reading this post on the train, and when I got to my station, I saw a ghost of my own, though in my case it was a person, and not a place. It was a neighbor that I had been close friends with for a year when I was just out of my first real love relationship, and in my wild, reckless, obnoxious, and self-absorbed early to mid-20's phase. I would pop in and out of his apartment a couple doors down telling stories of my exploits, and attempting to give him relationship and life advice, and I may have (most likely?) even broken his heart. Our friendship ended when we had a fight over something silly as you do when you're young and stupid. Unlike you, I decided it was best just to see him from afar, and not revisit that time or to talk about our lives since then. But it was a nice surprise to see him 20+ years later.
Thank you for sharing this story, Tracy. Must be something in the air because I too, have been seeing old neighbors and friends. For some reason, our paths have been intersecting once more.
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts. I hope you are well. I would add The Guardian to your list of media outlets. I just subscribed to its weekly magazine and am staying informed in a more global way, which is awesome. I also recommend subscribing to the News Literacy Project. It delves into debunking disinformation.
I want to support small businesses, and I have tried on more than one occasion. I found the perfect shirt for my best friend from an independent cartoonist that we both like a lot. The shirt was $26.99, which is not cheap, but doable. The problem was that the seller wanted an additional $16.99 to ship it. It is just too much for me to pay $44 for one T-shirt. To me, the single biggest impediment to small businesses is the fact that they don't get the bulk shipping deals that big companies get and it puts things out of reach.
I think that commercialism is something I've always heard as an issue at this time of year and I'm 60 so it's been a topic for decades. However, we all get to make our own traditions and to find meaning in our own way. We don't have to buy into existing notions or expectations, but most people aren't buying tons of crap at Christmas out of obligation. They're doing it for the dopamine rush of buying things and using the holiday as an excuse to indulge themselves more than usual.
I get the reaction to high shipping costs as a consumer. We're so conditioned to free shipping (thanks Amazon) that it feels jarring whenever we see shipping costs tacked on. However, as a former small business owner, I understand the shipping costs. We could not offer free shipping. We couldn't even lower shipping costs and eat part of the costs since we would lose money. As it was, we lost money on shipping supplies like boxes and padding which is necessary to ship cookies, but we couldn't afford to tack on handling fees, not to mention the time it took to pack the items and take them to the post office. With shipping costs increasing each year, it just got too unsustainable. And yes, I agree that it's one of the biggest impediments for small businesses. But this is directly the result of big box corporations normalizing free shipping. It's frustrating.
I always enjoy your thoughtful posts. Thanks for sharing them.
Thank you so much. I really appreciate this feedback.
Love this. I grew up in retail / family business, and I remember simultaneously loving the season and also feeling how busy and important it was for my parents from Halloween until New Years. Wishing you a peaceful end of the year!
I do wonder how the kids will look back at this time. I felt a lot of guilt as a parent, but I don't think they remember the time as being neglected lol. I guess I should be grateful for kids' limited memories of certain things.
Thank you for sharing these thoughts with us. I love hearing/reading your perspectives.
Thank you so much for reading, Kris! Appreciate your comment.
oh those cookies were so good! My relationship to gifts and the holidays is bizarre, and I won't go into it now, but this year I've been just buying one good thing for my small extended family. Like a book I read. Its all books. I do really enjoy gifting, but rarely have money to do it well. In truth, I've been buying gifts since October so we could afford it. The kids still have a couple years of holiday fun, and for me, that is enjoyable. Once my MIL is moved into her senior facility tomorrow (omg tomorrow) I can slow down and drink some hot cocoa and make gingerbreads. My kids always look forward to the small things: the movies we watch, the cookie parade I insist on, board games. I think there is a lesson there I need to remember 8)
I’m thinking of you as you move your MIL into her senior facility. I know how tough it is. After the initial shock, I hope it brings some peace and relief into your life. 💕
Thank you...it was something. I am so grateful for all the staff there who just said "we'll take it from here, go home". I think it will be good, but I know there is an adjustment period.
Celebrations and important rituals usually brings contradictions like joy and nostalgia and sometimes grief. For me the lunar new year will hit much harder with memories and grief, since celebrating Christmas here and generally all the December vibe is still newish in relation to my life's history.
It's amazing that we can hold all these contradictory emotions all at once. Human emotions are so complex!
It's such a blessing to be able to see life from both sides of the same window. The entrepreneur and the consumer. The packed house and the empty nest. The busy schedule and the boredom. Most people only see life from where they are at the moment.
How beautiful is this comment? Thank you.
Coincidentally, I was reading this post on the train, and when I got to my station, I saw a ghost of my own, though in my case it was a person, and not a place. It was a neighbor that I had been close friends with for a year when I was just out of my first real love relationship, and in my wild, reckless, obnoxious, and self-absorbed early to mid-20's phase. I would pop in and out of his apartment a couple doors down telling stories of my exploits, and attempting to give him relationship and life advice, and I may have (most likely?) even broken his heart. Our friendship ended when we had a fight over something silly as you do when you're young and stupid. Unlike you, I decided it was best just to see him from afar, and not revisit that time or to talk about our lives since then. But it was a nice surprise to see him 20+ years later.
Thank you for sharing this story, Tracy. Must be something in the air because I too, have been seeing old neighbors and friends. For some reason, our paths have been intersecting once more.
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts. I hope you are well. I would add The Guardian to your list of media outlets. I just subscribed to its weekly magazine and am staying informed in a more global way, which is awesome. I also recommend subscribing to the News Literacy Project. It delves into debunking disinformation.
Yes! I read the Guardian as well. Thanks for recommending News Literacy Project. Will check it out.
Hey Jenna, I’ve sent you a DM with a great proposal for your newsletter. Would love for you to take a look when you get a chance!