The Mega Mart Mentality

 There is a summer commercial that I really like.  A man is talking about the advantages of a small store compared to the megastores. Saying that it takes a big chunk of your weekend to go to and locate what you want in the big store when you can find what you want at the local little store in less time.

We are living in the age of mega marts, giant stores that offer you everything from food to lawn tractors to electronics.  The idea that is being sold is multi- shopping, picking up everything you think you need at one time to save you time.  But does it really?  When I food shop that is what I am doing buying food.  Same with lawn and garden or clothes or electronics; I want to focus on what I am looking for and not be distracted by what I am not looking for.  The idea these mega marts are selling is the more we see the more we want the more we buy.

There was a grocery store in the neighborhood that my mom and I used to go to when I was young.  It had five aisles and a produce section.  It took thirty minutes to shop; counting catching up on all the news with the butcher.  Yes we basically bought the same foods in a rotation but I don’t remember thinking I wish there was something better out there.  I liked that it was convenient and easy; I had more time to play.

Don’t we all want more time to play?

The more diverse the shopping trips the more unfocused they become.  Let’s face it who of us isn’t easily distracted (look squirrel).  We not only multi task at work but now it has invaded all parts of our lives. When we try to do multiple things at one time it is only frustrating and none of the tasks gets done as well as they could.

When we focus on a task then the task becomes easier to master and, as a consequence, will take less time.

 When was the last time you did something that had your full attention?  Really? You weren’t thinking about the last thing you did or the next thing you had to do.  Think about it and just it.

If you can!