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| http://lactimonte.pt/produtos/queijos-curados |
I ran up to the corner store a few minutes ago to get some chicken and a couple little round cheeses that are tasty and cheap as chips. When I was checking out I noticed that I was being charged a little more for each of the cheeses and asked about it. I was told the price (per cheese) which was not the price that was displayed in the dairy section. The difference was only pennies and I have no dispute with raising the price nor with the new price - the product is still a good quality/price value. My problem is with the fact that they raised the price and didn't change the pricing in the cooler. I have a problem with the sloppiness in which they conduct their business.
As I write this, one of the families in my building is moving out. The young woman has beautiful things hanging on her walls. Her apartment was on the first floor and you could see into her apartment in the evening. Her blinds are kept open and with the lights on inside we can get a glimpse into her life. I am watching her movers (40 something well-built guys who should have a bit of experience under their belts) load up the van (yes, it's a van not a truck) and I've noticed that they did not even "masking tape" her pictures let alone wrap them properly to help prevent breakage. And I hope, even though I barely know this girl, that her things arrive at her new place in the same condition as they left here as her apartment was a home not just a bunch of stuff shoved into a rental unit and only serving a practical purpose.
While neither of these examples is earth-shaking or a clear indicator of the decline of western civilization, they are however, examples of our general slide into apathy or a general cultural/ethical malaise. Nothing deserves our attention. "Good enough" or "close enough" is now the standard.
The thing is that these days I find myself a teacher and I'm trying to instruct my students to do their best. It doesn't make my job any easier or the world a better place if the "good enough" attitude becomes the norm.
At the risk of sounding redundant I will, once again, stress that I hope my surgeon, anesthesiologist, dentist, banker, car manufacturer, lawyer, and pharmacist to name a few, each prove to have a healthy work ethic and strive for something better than "good enough."
Side note: Went back to my little market and found that the price of the cheese is now correctly marked in the cooler;-)
