For some reason I decided this weekend that stereotypes are bad. It’s kind of like I woke up and said to myself, “I shouldn’t be such a shithead.” Usually epiphanies are a glorious feeling, not laced with profanities, but sometimes you can’t have everything work out the right way.
For example, I’ve always presumed that shoppers at Wal*Mart have two-digit IQs. I looked down upon those who shopped at Wal*Mart. They’re the dumb ones. “I’m better than you, I shop at Kaufmann’s and spend way too much money needlessly”. “You’re spending good money with a jerk of a company who kills small-town America.” “You’re buying cheaply made goods that were manufactured in sweat shops in Asia.” “You can’t earn a decent living so you have to shop at Wal*Mart”. How rude!
Earl and I shopped in Wal*Mart yesterday. Honestly, I hadn’t been in our local Wal*Mart in a number of years. The first in the area, it’s in the process of becoming a Wal*Mart Supercenter.
As we were opening the pool yesterday, we found we needed pool supplies. Being Sunday, none of the local pool supply shops were open, but Wal*Mart was there, with all the supplies that we needed. The sales staff was friendly. Our cashier had two lockets around her neck, both with pictures of her very young son. She seemed like the single, struggling mother type. Before my epiphany, I would have considered her a stupid fool who got knocked up and was living off welfare. Truth be known, she was a hard working Mom trying to earn a decent living so that her son could have a decent life. There’s nothing wrong with that. I looked her in the eyes and wished her a good day. She probably thought I was weird, but she smiled.
I’m seriously considering venturing into the Wal*Mart Supercenter across town for groceries next time we go shopping.
When I was a vegetarian, I probably was a little more preachy than I needed to do be. Did I consider myself better than those that ate meat? Admittedly, I did. How arrogant! Then I ask myself, was I a vegetarian to maintain a ‘holier-than-thou’ stance, or was I a vegetarian for health reasons? Honestly, I don’t know. I have met a few vegetarians that were just plain mean with their preachiness. I don’t want to be like them. I guess it doesn’t matter now, since I’m not vegetarian anymore, but I think I’ve learned a lesson somewhere in there.
I am a very fortunate person. I’m blissfully in love, have a beautiful home, enjoy a caring and understanding family and work with a great bunch of people. My life is ideal. It’s time to put aside my artifically earned superiority and appreciate people for who and what they are.
