Recently, I was on the phone ordering supplies, and the owner asked about my political affiliation. I was so shocked that I didn’t even know how to respond. I eventually responded that I’m disheartened by our current political climate.
I just wish that people were nice to other people…all people. There seems to be so little trust across the political aisle, and so there is little respect and support given as well.
One of the most formative experiences of my life came 20 years ago, sitting in traffic in San Francisco. Very unsuspecting circumstances for a life-changing moment. On the bumper of the car in front of me, a sticker read, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”
At the time, I did not recognize this as a famous quote from Gandhi. It just seemed like this driver’s personal opinion about how to live life. But ever since, the words from that bumper sticker have been my guiding light.
In the midst of political, economic, and cultural uncertainty, I cling even tighter to the importance of living the way that I wish all people lived. This guides our decision-making at Wild Harmony Farm.
If we show respect to our land, our animals, our employees, our customers, our neighbors, our landlords, our vendors, and our competitors, we have learned that they return that respect back to us.
Rachael gives me a hard time for how often she has caught me reverse negotiating with another small business, where they are underselling themselves or their product, and I refuse to pay so little. The short-term savings of a few dollars is far less important to me than the long-term health of our community.
We understand the value of these relationships. Small businesses are reliant on their community. If one of us goes bankrupt, it hurts the rest of us.
It feels good to feel valued. That’s something that we rarely get from large corporations or, sadly, our government. It comes from face-to-face interaction with another human.
Let’s live with integrity and show each other that we value one another.
- Farmer Ben