Expecting people to do all of this at once is like expecting someone who has been sedentary for 30 years to go run a marathon. Never gonna happen and you kill the cause. Get them to do one day like yesterday. Get them to boycott one company on this list. This is behavior change. It takes time.

(5)

I’m enjoying paying attention to who I’m supporting (or not) with my money. If it’s a little more work or I have to pay a few extra dollars to shop small and/or local, fine. I consider that my patriotic duty now that we’ve been completely sold out to the billionaires and Papa Vlad.

—Helped support the economy in a downtown that’s still struggling post-pandemic

—While en route, discovered a few other shops where I can buy clothing, gifts, and services in the future

(3)
—Got about 1,000 steps walking from the car to the shop and back

—Interacted with a human employee instead of AI and a screen (also thereby helping justify a local job)

—Had a chance to browse other books and enjoy being in the company of other like-minded and literate people

(2) I discovered some hidden benefits beyond the obvious one (not giving another red cent to yet another complicit oligarch):

—Carefully considered my purchase before making it, instead of impulse-buying

—Got to see some beautiful snow-capped mountains on the way to the store

But use cash!