Someone asked me today if I will go somewhere in Tacoma next week that I have not been to before. I am taking a staycation in order to get some rest. You see, most of my vacation is used to travel to Chicago, and while restful in a different sort of way, I am really looking forward to my time here.
I want to swim in the Titlow pool. I want to finish one book I am reading, (The Geography of Bliss by Eric Weiner) and start another... any suggestions?
There is lots to do in that week. I may just blog about it. But Titlow pool... that is on there for sure.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Monday, June 21, 2010
how do you know???
Since this blog was supposed to be about social and corporate responsibility, it leads me to ask the question "how do you know?" How do you know parabens are bad for you? You know because there is research... but who is behind that research? How do you know that your cat food company was just bought out by Proctor & Gamble? You know because the awesome, gritty, dreadlocked, beautiful girl at your pet food store told you. But how do you know that means you should watch out?
I have been giving these things a lot of thought... not specifically abut the parabens, or the P and G buy out, but how I internalize this information to make decisions. There is research. There is media coverage. There is hearsay. But in the end, I base so much of my trust in information on two things: my gut, and social capital. Actually, the two usually combine in my heart and head to formulate how I operate on a daily basis.
It is because I trust the dreadlocked girl at the pet food store, that I decide to start paying sixty cents more per can of food to get away from supporting P & G. It is because I trust a company like Burts Bees that I can latch onto their products, which I know will not have parabens or other bad chemicals... and it is because I trust in the social networks that connect these things, mind is set at ease and I trust my gut... so, I suppose it is cyclical, really.
It is really this way in human relationships as well. I trust those around me if they have demonstrated their willingness to engage in social relationships with productive benefits. Benefits sounds weird. Short answer: if someone is open to relating to me, and we can benefit each other in some way, then there is a fit. These benefits range from making me smile or laugh, to helping me through my darkest hour. And the benefit also means I can provide something for them (which, that gets into altruism, best covered in another blog post). And when that fit feels right, I feel it in my gut. And then it feels good. And when I do not feel it, I also feel that in my gut. But that pang does not feel nearly the same. Not the same at all...
I have been giving these things a lot of thought... not specifically abut the parabens, or the P and G buy out, but how I internalize this information to make decisions. There is research. There is media coverage. There is hearsay. But in the end, I base so much of my trust in information on two things: my gut, and social capital. Actually, the two usually combine in my heart and head to formulate how I operate on a daily basis.
It is because I trust the dreadlocked girl at the pet food store, that I decide to start paying sixty cents more per can of food to get away from supporting P & G. It is because I trust a company like Burts Bees that I can latch onto their products, which I know will not have parabens or other bad chemicals... and it is because I trust in the social networks that connect these things, mind is set at ease and I trust my gut... so, I suppose it is cyclical, really.
It is really this way in human relationships as well. I trust those around me if they have demonstrated their willingness to engage in social relationships with productive benefits. Benefits sounds weird. Short answer: if someone is open to relating to me, and we can benefit each other in some way, then there is a fit. These benefits range from making me smile or laugh, to helping me through my darkest hour. And the benefit also means I can provide something for them (which, that gets into altruism, best covered in another blog post). And when that fit feels right, I feel it in my gut. And then it feels good. And when I do not feel it, I also feel that in my gut. But that pang does not feel nearly the same. Not the same at all...
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