I've noticed that having principles can be costly in many ways. Last week I popped to my local shop for pesto, the main ingredient in that night's meal. Now one of the things I like about co-op is its honesty. So when it says on a label that it's used eggs from caged hens I put it back. So in one way they lose out as I then don't buy that product, but in the long run I stay a loyal customer.
There were 2 pesto options. The first was a co-op brand and so admitted that it was made with calf rennet. The second was a more expensive brand, listing the same ingredients but no mention as to suitability for vegetarians. I pondered the dilemma awhile - it didn't say it wasn't ok, but I had my doubts. I concluded my girly would not eat something if it's acceptability was questionable and I didn't want to put her in that position. And so I then trekked to the supermarket where there was again an own label jar alongside the same we'll known brand. Only here there was an additional choice - the expensive brand also does a vegetarian version. So I was right, as a veggie version confirms that their other one clearly isn't. It cost £2.59 compared to just 89p for the supermarket's own. Sticking to my principles has a price.
And yet how guilty would I have felt giving my girly something against what she believes in? If I'm not true to myself then there's a greater cost, one I'm not willing to pay. Is there a limit to the price I'll pay for my principles? I don't know and I'm hoping I don't get pushed to find out!!!
I went to a seminar at Greenbelt a few years ago about being ethical. They said you had to choose what was important to you, as it's impossible to look after everything in one go. Similarly I got accosted by a chugger the other day and told her I'm not a fan of animals - saying we all have different things we care about, she informed me that WWF do loads for the rain forest and displaced people as well as animals - who knew!
ReplyDeleteImpressed you went our of your way, I'd have given up!
Maybe you'd have had different priorities, that's all. We're all different in what we choose is important. I'm pretty tenacious but we all get to decide when it's important to keep with something and when it's time to try something different (and a non-pesto meal was beginning to look appealing!)
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