Outrageous Corporate Behavior

I know, outrageous? In what context, post-economy-meltdown with all the attendant horror stories of corporate greed and excess? (Oh, I suppose "horror stories" is a subjective term, as in: the executives probably didn't see it that way, but us peons down here do.)

The thing of it is, I thought that all of us were on the same consciousness-raising boat ride right now, everyone turning back to frugality and everyone knowing multiple people going through lay-offs and what-not. As in, a good time to take your blinders off and start noticing the plight of those people who have it even worse off than you think you do. I guess some people still don't get it, and by people you know I mean heartless corporate parasites who would rather THROW THEIR PRODUCT AWAY than see it helping someone who didn't have the resources to pay for it. H&M, I am talking to you. And possibly Wal-mart too, according to this article in the New York Times.

See, I understand. I've worked for large enough companies and heard their sort of reasoning enough to know right away why H&M might be destroying their superfluous unsold clothing. Instead of doing something nice, say, giving it to charity. In the middle of winter. As the disadvantaged & poverty-stricken are likely freezing for lack of sufficient clothing. But maybe that's just what I'd do with it. H&M though, I can see why they may think that if people are seen wearing H&M stuff, and word gets around this was unpaid for... Well, they'd be freaked it would destroy their brand. The value of what does sell would go down. They would make less money. And we all know what executives worship.

So, H&M, why not give the items to a charity in a country where you don't have a presence? Where you don't have any stores. Like Africa, India, or anywhere in Central or South America. Because last I heard, there were plenty of people in any of those countries who need what you see fit to destroy.

(Clarification: I really don't think it's an advantage to understand why corporations do the things they do. And just because I understand doesn't mean I agree. But I think you already guessed that.)

Whew, I really needed to get that off my chest! You can vent here too in the comments, if you feel like it. Thanks to @lessherger, @ittybiz, and others for tweeting this news so that I could see it & boycott this store. Ok, you may now return to something a little happier than this posting here, maybe. I think I will too.

Vacation mood worn off already!

I took a mini-"vacation" this past weekend - really more of 2-1/2 days in the country with nothing at all to do but decompress from the pressures of real life. Already I am sick to death of being back at work. This happens every time I go away - I have ONE day back where I am in a more positive mindset, and then the second day *BOOM* - it's like I never left at all. The depression and anger all return. Because really, what can a few days away solve? Everything I dislike, all of my struggles, my feelings that I am not living my life the way I should, they're all still here. The only thing to do, and this is SOOO long overdue, is to change my situation in any and all ways that I can.

This week, I'm putting the charge upon myself to look into setting up a store on Etsy. I'm the kind of person who needs to look around, research, look around some more, dip a toe in, retreat, and then maybe jump in slowly. No diving for this girl! But, the sooner I set up a store the better. Been wanting to for a couple of years now - since I first heard of Etsy - and told myslef I would do it after I was "more ready". Well, I'm never going to get myself "more ready" until I have the need to, notwithstanding my recent jump in productivity in my artwork. The way I'll create the "need" to get down to business? Um, yeah, set up a store already! Then I won't have an excuse anymore.

Back to Work

I went back to work today. No more glorious days of setting my own schedule, pursuing my own interests, feeling well and rested....It's back to working long hours to line someone else's pockets, arranging my life around this job instead of around my personal growth, letting my body, energy and mind atrophy to the point where I'm too drained by the time I get home to do much of anything. After one day back at the grind, I feel brain-dead.

The sad thing is, I'm the one letting things be this way. We all are - for everyone who is unhappy with their job, doesn't feel free to do what they dream of, or wonders why there isn't a better way - it's like this because we let our society be this way. There are many places in the world where people do not have to work so hard or for so many hours, where urgency is defined differently, where mistakes are not the end of the world, but I am not so fortunate as to live in a place like this. Too bad, so sad. I've gotta deal with what I've got, and make changes when and where I can. Hopefully the state of my circumstances will change for the better in the not-too-distant future.