Working at SecondLove, day in and day out, allows me the opportunity to interact with so many precious people, all on their own mission, all just doing their thing.  I’m especially tuned in to people that bring up environmental issues, which is a lot, not surprising given the fantastic community that surrounds the store.  I find it fascinating to see the array of attitudes that people have toward the environment.  Some, with their fiery passion towards all that is ‘wrong’ in the world, seem to carry an anger around with them.  Others, know what is ‘wrong’ with the world, but let it go because they don’t feel served by the anger.  I have to admit, I am with the angry folk at this point, but hope this will dissipate with long term goals we have for the store.  Then sometimes that person comes along, and most-likely unintentionally, who changes the way we think.

A first time customer arrived at the shop because she was planning a ‘nothing new, nothing plastic’ baby shower for her friend.  No new clothes, toys, books, games, etc.  Nor was she using any disposable products at the party….she was going to wash plates, yeah, by hand.  There was a lightness to her, she didn’t carry anger, but she wasn’t turning a blind eye to the problem either.  She was doing what she could and realizing this, really did change me.

Having a second-hand (although we prefer the term pre-loved) store is doing what we can.  We are saying no to the demand for new products that are using all of our natural resources to make.  We are saying no to the ‘if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em’ attitude that has gotten us where we are.  I can’t fight big oil today and I can’t be angry about that, nor can I let it go.  The answer to this problem is simple and lies solely in the middle.  I can do what I can.

Katie