Keep moving on!
In my informal conversations in grocery lines, and even in restaurants or in a cab, I find myself wondering how businesses manage to press on.
At the cashier, I ask how business has been. Three out of four have answered that there are many people in the mall, but only a few buy. And those who do only pick a few items. There are no longer many of those “sale addicts” who buy sporadically when there is a sale, even if they have no need for the items, just because the article looks attractive with its marked-down tag.
In a restaurant, when I look at the bestsellers, I note that price more than taste has made the culinary adventure limited. “Bestsellers” are simply that. They sell best because they are affordable. Being tasty is a bonus.
In a cab, the driver told me that they see more local tourists rather than foreign ones. In my mind, that is good, as we are beginning to appreciate our own sites and spots, and we keep our local economy moving. But for those running businesses heavily dependent on tourists, the value of foreign currency is missed.
We are embattled. Really. The fluctuating cost of fuel, which drives most of our businesses, has led to unnecessary spending. Our experience with COVID made us stare uncertainty in the eye. The frequency of calamities that sometimes literally shake our country adds to the vulnerability of our economy.
And there is more. The population that has mainly powered our country to push earnings is seen to reduce, as couples who have the ability to earn have replaced human reproduction with dogs. Now, I may seem unfair here, for there are couples who really want to have children but can’t, so they get a pet. But for other couples, the responsibility of raising children has created a stigma because of the fast-paced lifestyle we have. And nannies are no longer that affordable, let alone available. Plus some same-sex partnerships have reduced the ability to procreate further.
So yes, the observation of some economists on the impact of a reduced population will be felt soon if things don’t change. By this I mean if people prefer to have no children. The option to adopt and nurture a child remains a good way to reduce the number of individuals who grow up in unstable, dole-out-dependent environments. Loving children whose parents have abandoned them or who no longer have the ability to keep them would help in bringing up responsible citizens. For this you will need a lot of heart and a lot of God.
In spite of setbacks, business continues. And all I can say is that businessmen still have that grit to survive and find more opportunities within the slump. I guess that is where our real resilience lies. Most of all we recognize the human spirit. That determination and reliance on each other that automatically surfaces in moments of need. I think that is what keeps business going.
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