Kudos to CVS Pharmacy for their commitment to stop selling tobacco products. It’s refreshing to hear about a business that has enough integrity to make its actions match its values. Naturally, CVS will see a reduction in revenues. This decision therefore shows a real commitment to promoting health.
It’s tempting to ignore things that don’t really fit our values, especially when money or any other pleasurable thing is involved. It’s true for businesses and for individuals.
- We make a resolution to get healthy then head for the all-you-can-eat buffet.
- We say we believe education is important but our money is going toward a new car instead of toward our kids’ college.
- We say we love God yet opt to sleep in instead of spending time in relationship with Him.
Since it is so easy to overlook our stated values, it’s important to choose in advance which values are non-negotiable.
Have you noticed that when people face the end of life they are more concerned about people and relationships than they are about stuff? That’s why at Simply Great Lives we want people to invest their lives in other people. We believe this value should be non-negotiable. We don’t know how long her time on earth will be, so it’s important to act now.
Do your actions really reflect your values? Now is a good time to make any course corrections if necessary. That way in the end you will be able to say, “I loved people well and my life mattered.”
