What Matters Most

A shopper who had just returned from one of those department store January “White Sales,” had this story to tell:

I was standing in a crowded department store elevator, when a woman pushed her way in through the closing doors with fire in her eyes. I couldn’t understand what she was muttering to herself except that it was something about the department store’s policies and it was obviously uncomplimentary. Then, her lip quivering with rage, she blurted out for all to hear, “It isn’t the money I mind, it’s that I hate to be cheated.” And immediately you could feel the unspoken, sympathetic response from everyone on that elevator. Whatever had happened, we were ready to share her anger. For we had this in common: we all hate to be cheated.

Sure, we all hate to be cheated! Why then, do we put up with it from ourselves? Why do we spend so much of our energy and resources running after things that…