Better Quality T.P.

I’m the boss. I own the building.

At home we use high quality toilet paper. In fact, it’s Charmin, a brand known for being squeezeably soft.

The T.P. at our office isn’t soft. This has been going on for more than ten years. I’m sure I’m saving money, but which bottom line should I be more concerned about? (pun intended).

A month ago I asked our facilities manager to order a better quality T.P.

“I’ll bring some samples for you to look at,” he said. Brave man.

Today I found him in the hallway, talking to our HR manager.

“When do I get to see the samples?” I asked.

“We replaced all of the T.P. a few days ago. Do you notice the difference?”

“No.”

“The new stuff costs almost double what the old T.P. cost.”

“Can’t we buy Charmin?”

“This is supposed to be just as good.”

“We can do better. Have our janitorial service buy Charmin if we have to. At Costco of course.”

But I intend to make a point that is as solid as our office T.P. What I’m really talking about is quality. Quality of life.

None of us can afford the best of everything, and even if we could it wouldn’t bring us enduring happiness. I invite you to take a look at the poem Richard Cory by Edwin Arlington Robinson (link below). I first read this poem in junior high school. I still remember it, so obviously this poem has an impact.

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44982/richard-cory

But if we surround ourselves with quality – quality people, quality experiences, quality thinking – our lives become more meaningful and enjoyable.

So, while I’m thinking about it, you can subscribe (yes, blatant self-promotion) to two entirely free web sites that will bring greater meaning into your life.

The first is my blog: Peopletoolsbook.com

Sign up and you’ll receive a free (I hope it’s worth somewhat more than that), short, and funny essay every Tuesday morning.

The second is Rattle.com. If you sign up you’ll receive a poem every day of the year. I think you’ll agree that many of these poems are wonderful.

Well, I started out talking about T.P. I ended up somewhere else. It makes perfect sense to me.

And I have nothing to do now but wipe a smile off of my face.

Alan