whenever you can shopping at local/small businesses is good! that way you’re feeding back into the economy of real people rather than big corps which are obv more likely to be using problematic labor, sourcing, etc. even if nothings perfect, I feel like this tends to make the biggest direct impact in normal things you’d already do in everyday life (without also needing to be rich af😭)
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why go to one big store with annoying music and bright lights when you could go to a small market, a butcher, a fishmonger, a wine store, and the farmers market to get everything you need? you get to spend so much more time in your community and often meet the people involved in the production of your food. making a meal with ingredients you've spent all day shopping for always feels like so much more of an accomplishment. it seems like our culture exports the act of mindful cooking onto 'organic' or 'whole food' type restaurants, when any individual person can really do it on their own
sure, it can be more expensive but in my experience supermarket costs are rising while other businesses have stayed relatively the same, so the cost difference is becoming smaller. it is admittedly easiest to do this in large cities and wealthier towns, but you'd be surprised at the resources you can find in even the most sprawling of suburbs. the home butcher and locally sourced produce can be hunted down fairly easily on places like craigslist and fb marketplace. for more rural people there are often wonderful options from native tribes and local hunting clubs for local game and fish. these options are honestly better than your urban gourmet markets since they do more to build community through individual connections
not every meal has to be a work of art, but taking the time once a month to source your food, inviting folks over to help cook and sharing the meal widely (buying in bulk is the most cost effective way to do this) does wonders for many things in your life, I cannot recommend this enough
this may sound like stating the obvious-- "local hipster says shop local" --but I mean this more in the way of mindfulness than anything. experience what you consume to the fullest manner you can
tldr
going to many small stores instead of one makes for a more mindful cooking experience and is only marginally more expensive.
Feb 26, 2025
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the department store music playing overhead - extra points if its jazz, warm interactions with other shoppers, befriending the cashiers, finding those treasures you never would have found online, going out for coffee after your shop, feeling so pleased you can support these local businesses because they make your day that much better
Apr 27, 2024
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definitely niche, but grocery shopping feels so much nicer now?? like I know my money isn't going to some faceless corporation across the country
Jan 25, 2024
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as groundhog day approaches, remember this lil star is just doing his job! and he’s great at it! it’s not his fault if it’s sunny outside!
Jan 31, 2025
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I loved being 19, it felt like the age I was supposed to be. I miss 19, I can’t wait to see what other years will feel like being 19 when I get older. Aging used to scare me a lot more, now I’ve realized the world is kinder to me as I’ve grown up, and I’ve grown kinder to myself too. I hope to smile enough that one day it’ll never leave my face again.
Jan 26, 2025