Dealing with Chronic Pain by Changing One’s Focus

When you can’t turn to drugs, there is still something you can do to tackle pain in your life.

Image by Arpit on pixabay.com

As someone who sits in front of a computer for long hours for a living, I have lots of little aches and pains. My back, my legs, my wrists, my feet… they all hurt after a long day. Now, I do all the things that they recommend, too. I exercise, I get up regularly and change tasks, and I’m always ready for cleanup duty and chores.

Yes, I also try to minimize the time I spend working in front of a screen. Having done this type of work for 25 years in my previous job, gritting my teeth through carpal tunnel, using more pain meds than I should have, and sweating my way through physical therapy, I should know better. Unfortunately, today technology is everywhere. If I’m not sitting in front of my computer screen, I’m on my phone. Even when I exercise, I use apps to track my progress. This lifestyle is taking its toll, and now that I’m middle-aged, I can feel it.

This is also the case for most small business owners. Despite all the tech and automation in their lives, QuickBooks reports don’t create themselves, while inventory lists can’t just check out for the rest of the day. Whether we want to admit it or not, screen time is hurting us, especially over the long term.

This is why pain management, especially for those pains that just won’t go away anymore, is so important. How can we deal with these pains without drugs or surgeries? Well, I may have stumbled onto one way that can help, but the revelation didn’t come right away. As it turns out, my father had something to do with it.

An Interesting Coincidence

One discovery I made many years ago is that when I go walking or hiking, I can typically push myself farther and faster when I listen to music. I’ve written about Using Music to Improve Productivity before, and this led me to experiment more with music. I didn’t realize it then, but music was also a way to cope with the pain of exercising. After all, fatigue is also a form of pain. I have figured out since then that the music I listen to also impacts how far I can walk. The more I enjoy the music and the more it makes my mind wander, the longer I can walk.

Years ago, when my father spent endless hours doing repetitive work, printing, sizing, matting, and framing art for his art business, he also listened to music all day long. We had boomboxes in every room of the house, and there were CDs everywhere. He also listened to music on those endless drives across the country, traveling to distant art shows. He even told me one time that his art would not have been possible without music.

He would never admit it today, but I know that creating the art and traveling with it took a tremendous toll on my father’s physical health. Yet I never once heard him complain about chronic pain and the physical hardship of being an artist. Looking back at it now, I know that two things made this possible: the music, but also the art itself – the beauty of it, the passion in it, and the joy it brings to people.

I never considered art as being much more than that, back then.

What I Learned from My Father

As my father grew older, it became more obvious that the art business had really taken a toll on my father. Growing old only made all this even more acute. My father had always been hard of hearing, but his hearing has diminished significantly more recently. The man who loved music could no longer enjoy it, and this was the first of many heartbreaks for him.

His heart is also no longer as strong as it was before. My father always loved to travel, originally with the company he worked for, where he visited distant places like China, Venezuela, and the Ivory Coast. Then, when he was an artist, he attended art shows in every major US city, while still taking time to visit distant places like Morocco, Dubai, and the Netherlands. After he retired from art, he became a traveling lecturer and taught classes on art, culture, and history. He loved doing this, too.

Unfortunately, now that he is much older, that isn’t possible anymore, and I have to believe that this is incredibly difficult for him. My father always thrived on talking with people anywhere, having lively debates about science and history, and he would always enjoy events and outings. Sadly, this is now rare because of his heart and his hearing.

One of the things that is so painful as people age is the inevitable dulling of the senses. It is something we don’t understand when we are younger. Only those of us who have had a few health setbacks in life may understand this a little better. You know, when your body’s check engine light comes on too soon... But most people can’t quite understand what the loss of an older person’s senses is like.

This age-related dulling of the senses has another impact that we seldom realize. It becomes something that isolates us, confines us in our own thoughts, and disconnects us from the world around us that everyone is still enjoying. It brings emotional stress and that is also a form of pain, pain that we then bear in addition to the physical pain of old age.

So, how can we deal with this?

One of the things I noticed recently is that my father especially loves reading large, coffee-table-sized books with images. At first, I worried that he might be losing his eyesight too, but that’s not the reason. He loves large-format books because they contain large, beautiful photos.

This is when it dawned on me. Those books contain photos from museums and galleries housing the greatest art in the world. Other books portray the most beautiful landscapes, the most amazing architecture, and the most enchanting historical sites. The large nature books, too, contain the most incredible and majestic fauna and flora on earth.

These are all photos of amazingly beautiful things in our world. Some of these he has seen, but many he never had the chance to. Now with these books, he can. They bring joy, they bring peace, and they make him forget the isolation and the pain that he is suffering.

What my father discovered, and I finally understood, is that the beauty and majesty of the most amazing things in our world are all images that soothe the mind. Yes, they bring peace, but they can also heal pain.

So, is it really that simple? Can this be put to the test?

Testing the Theory

As it so happens, I had a particularly painful experience on one of my walks a couple of weeks ago. I tripped on some cement stairs and scraped my shin on one of the steps. It hurt about as much as you can imagine. I was nowhere near my home, so I had to stop right then and there in agony. I had a choice, either scream and curse my misfortune, or take a step back from the pain and try out my theory… I’m actually amazed I had the clarity of mind to think of it then, but I did.

So, I let my mind wander. I looked up and concentrated on the trees above me. I thought about how green the leaves were as they contrasted against the bright blue sky. I thought how majestic these trees were, towering over me. I thought about the hundreds of tiny animals and plants that must live in those trees, from the smallest insect to the birds that feed on them. I thought about the raccoons, possums, and owls that make their homes in those trees.

I even noticed a pair of tiny birds frolicking between the branches, maybe a mother-father pair tending to their nest. I admired the way the sun shone through the rustling leaves, and I could feel the warmth against my face. I realized how fortunate I was to be able to take this all in, in peace and serenity…

When I returned my thoughts to the thing that had stopped my walk: the burning pain on my shin that I had momentarily completely forgotten. I could still feel it, to be sure, but it wasn’t nearly as intense as it had been just seconds before… or had it been longer than that? I can’t really remember. What I do remember is that I was able to stand up and slowly continue on my walk and head home.

Second Test

More recently, I was doing some chores around the house. I was in the middle of replacing the stop valve in one of our toilet tanks while I balanced the lid on my lap. It slipped off and landed on my foot, not so hard as to break anything, but hard enough to be accompanied by a healthy number of expletives. It hurt like hell, and I was on the point of tossing that &^%$% lid into the bedroom, but I stopped myself and decided to hobble over to the bed and just lie there for a minute instead.

My foot was throbbing, but I scanned the room for something beautiful to focus on. Then I saw the painting we have over our bed. It is a simple maritime painting of a wave breaking on the rocky shore, and not much else. That said, it is masterfully done, with the light seemingly shining through the wave, the dark and light colors of the furious water contrasting beautifully against a darkening evening blue sky. The strokes of the paintbrush had so masterfully captured every nuance of color.

I then saw the signature and remembered that this was painted by my late uncle Albert Buikema. I remembered some of his other amazing paintings. I remembered that my parents have one of two ducks that is also incredibly realistic. I also thought of another painting of his that I have downstairs, hanging over the mantle. It is a beautiful clearing at the end of a muddy road, as seen after a storm. It has a distinctive golden glow from the sun, almost as if to prepare us for the inevitable rainbow to appear if we just wait a little longer…

This time I had to work a little harder to focus my mind, but when I thought back to my throbbing toe, it wasn’t throbbing anymore. The pain was still there – definitely still there – but it was noticeably less intense than it had been. So, the theory held.

Both times that I turned my mind to something beautiful or amazing, it had a noticeable impact in reducing the pain that I felt. I’m sure this remedy isn’t as powerful as a full dose of doctor-prescribed codeine, but that also has serious side effects, and it can take a bit longer to work, perhaps even too long. The focus method, on the other hand, is much more immediate; it is freely available to anyone anywhere, and it works.

Now, I’m not done testing this theory out – it’s not like I’m walking around looking to hurt myself – but for now, this has been a welcome discovery. You can try it yourself. We can’t always avoid pain in our lives, and some of us indeed have intense pain to bear, but if this works, even a little bit, then it’s worth trying. I sincerely hope this helps others suffering in silence, too.

As another welcome thought: this is also a great opportunity to add some beautiful art to your home, you know, for that next time you drop something on your own toe.

Not Just Another White Shirt: The Arax Sweatproof Shirt

It’s surprisingly comfortable, especially after a few wears, and does a great job wicking sweat.

When was the last time you bought a shirt that came in such a nice box?

I live in SoCal, and while this isn’t Texas or Florida, the temps here can get hot here too. Now I wear T-shirts for just two reasons: as a workout shirt and as an undershirt for dressing up. For neither of these am I looking for extra bulk, so the idea of a shirt with padded underarms was not something I thought I would like. Well, I stand corrected.

I don’t usually do product reviews unless I really like something, and this is one of those items. It’s a stupidly simple idea, but as any small business owner knows, it’s in the implementation of an idea that success is built. Arax has got my attention, so here are my thoughts.

About that free shirt…

I ran into Arax at a local vendor fair completely by accident. I seldom stop for clothing at these fairs… and these guys were just selling plain white shirts, but I was intrigued. Now, apparently, sweat-proof shirts are trending right now, so I had to ask what was different about the Arax shirt. I explained that I was a blogger and that I wanted to know more.

They explained in great detail that it was of higher quality in every way – imported premium cotton, better stitching, great customer service, etc. I must not have shown that I was impressed, so seeing my disbelief, they asked me to just try it. Well, I wasn’t going to change in front of everyone, so I thought I was done. Then they said, “Here, take one, try it, and we’re so sure you will like it that you’ll buy more.”

My interest was piqued. Yeah, I know, for a blogger, reviews of freebies are always suspect, but I took their shirt home to try it. I work out (and sweat) every day, so I will have something to say about this shirt if it doesn’t perform.

About Arax

Arax is a brand-new importer with barely an online presence. Sweat-proof shirts are a crowded field, and I think they need a little help with their marketing. The website, noted prominently on their packaging, isn’t even up yet. They do have an Instagram page:

A simple Insta page, mirroring the simplicity of the white shirt…

But as you can see, it’s sparse. For the shopping cart, customers are redirected to an Amazon shop for their one product: The Sweat Proof Men's Undershirt Crew Neck White 2 Pack with Sweat Pads. Yeah, I know.

…and the Amazon shop

The Amazon shop doesn’t stand out much either. They have one negative review, but it’s for a black shirt, and they don’t sell those, so that reviewer must be confused. The other reviews are all 5 stars, and for good reason.

I’m also not too concerned that Arax is just an importer, either. Almost all small T-shirt vendors are. What I care about is that they make a good product, and they do. Their customer service is also excellent – if you’re not happy, just return it. Done. No questions.

Now the shirt does cost $45, so it’s not an inexpensive shirt. But is it good value? Well, I still think it is because I know a thing about quality. I burn through cheap shirts at rates most people don’t because I work out in them every day. I do chores around the house, I do my online store packing in them, and when they are used up, they become rags.

I also get promo shirts all the time from conferences and events. Most of them don’t last more than a couple of months. If they’re in any way uncomfortable, they go straight into the rag bin. Don’t even try to get me to wear that 50/50 poly-cotton crap. Anyhow, when it comes to T-shirts, you could say I have some experience.

The Arax shirt isn’t one of those cheap shirts. It lasts through stretching, the seams are strong, they go through wash after wash, and while my shirt isn’t exactly white anymore (my own doing), the shirt itself is still as solid and comfortable as the first day. Does it wick sweat? Yes, absolutely, and it does so with a minimum of underarm bulk. It’s a well-made shirt from an importer that cares to make a good product.

A Note about Arax Packaging

When you receive the shirt, it comes in a unique cardboard box. This isn’t Nordstrom austerity, but it’s a nice little box, with the shirt neatly folded inside:

The packaging was surprisingly good

This is a nice touch that shows that Arax cares about the product. All the info you need is right there, and it looks clean and professional. You seldom see this with other shirts.

The First Workout

I know that you should always wash a shirt before you wear it for the first time, but I was in a hurry that day, so I just put it on. First impressions were not so good. It was long enough, but I’m not exactly a rail around the waist – yeah, I’m working on that – but a tight-fitting shirt isn’t my preference.

As Gimli said before going off to battle: it’s a little tight around the chest!

I’m not used to having extra padding under the armpits, so that felt a bit off, too. I mean, I tried other shirts with underarm padding before, and I never liked the bulk. This shirt’s bulk is minimal, though. It’s also flexible, and once I started my workout, I completely forgot about it.

But comfort is why you want to wear this shirt. It’s about as soft as cotton gets. It has no tags, and I was never bothered by the seams. Another pet peeve of mine is if a shirt twists like so many lower-quality shirts tend to do. I’m happy to say that this shirt fits straight every time and does not twist, even after washing.

Speaking of washing, the shirt did shrink a bit in the wash, so when I buy my second one, I’ll buy a size larger. It’s not really an issue for me because it’s a workout and an undershirt. Anyhow, it stretched out again after wearing it; that’s what quality cotton is supposed to do.

Final thoughts on the Arax Shirt

Look, I know what you’re thinking. As soon as I mentioned the $45 price, you probably lost interest. I probably would too. But here’s the thing, it’s more of a luxury purchase. Most people who are going to wear this will do so under a pricey dress shirt with a pricey suit. The right undershirt makes all the difference.

Even now that winter is approaching, a sweat-proof undershirt is a good idea. How many times have you sat down for an interview where the heater was cranked up? Doing a presentation next month? Yes, you’re going to sweat too. Even if you go for happy hour after work, you’ll be sweating in that expensive dress shirt on the karaoke stage. So, yes, the right undershirt will make all the difference.

By the way, it makes a great holiday gift for that person you know really needs it. I’m definitely buying a second one, and you should too!

How All my Cares Fly Away in my Garden

This new plumeria symbolizes growth, resilience, and rebirth, while the plaque is speaks volumes about how I feel about gardening.
(photo by author)

Small business owners, especially those who work from home, should have a hobby that provides a break from the daily toil of running a business.

The photo above, taken in the corner of our garden, shows a plumeria that I planted a few years ago and is only now tall enough to poke a few fragrant flowers over our BBQ. It replaced a larger plumeria that was cut down by accident in the winter when it had no leaves. Our kids, wanting to be extra helpful, chopped it to the ground, and it never recovered. It was my fault, really, because I told them to clear out weeds and dead wood.

So, I planted a new one, but plumerias are fickle and slow-growing. That is why, after several years, it is now finally coming into its glory and producing some wonderfully fragrant flowers. Our plumeria was reborn, in a way. That process of planting something and watching it grow slowly over time is incredibly therapeutic. While working from home may seem very relaxing, it is anything but that, as any home-based business owner can tell you.

From Adversity to…

Many years ago, when we bought our first house, I was very busy working in IT at a large university. The house was in an HOA, I needed to have the garden completed within a year. I didn’t have the time to do that; my wife was also working, and so we just hired a gardener to throw some trees and bushes in the ground. As this was our first house, we didn’t have a big budget, so the result reflected that, and over time, it became increasingly unruly.

Then something tragic happened at my work. My direct supervisor, the person who hired me and who was a mentor, was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer. He died a very short time later. The years that followed were very hectic. Our department needed to expand during that time, but it was leaderless. I was bounced around to different managers I gave serious consideration to transferring to a different department or even leaving the university for the private sector.

When I came home, usually late at night, I would sit on my patio to think things through. Looking upon that unruly garden with its overgrown trees, vines reaching the roofline, and the withering bulbs that no longer produced flowers, my garden became a metaphor for my work.

It was right around that time that I also broke my tibia. It was a hairline fracture just below the knee, but it was extremely painful, and made my work, which required a lot of walking, even more unpleasant. Then one night, as I sat there exhausted, in front of a row of dried-out lavender encroaching onto my patio under an already dead birch tree that I had doted over, I decided to make a change.

…to Prosperity

The work I so despised and the jungle that my garden had become were like two sides of a pit that I needed to get out of. I couldn’t do much about my job, but that flippin’ garden, I could tackle that. So instead of just sitting there every night, ruminating, I decided to work in my garden. Like any large project, I began small, focusing on tasks I knew I could handle.

Over time, my garden started to improve. Little by little, I planted new flowers, replaced dying bushes, and even gave that beloved birch tree a proper funeral. I replaced a patch of grass with proper ground cover, added pavers to walk on, and I even figured out how to replace the sprinkler system. The change did not occur overnight. It took several years, but the progress was evident.

What happened as a result was more surprising, though. The process of planting things, nurturing them, watching them grow to maturity, and maintaining them gave me a sense of accomplishment. Sitting on my patio with friends no longer requires excuses about that unruly yard.

My spirits improved overall, and this also started to become evident at work. While I still didn’t have a manager who actually understood what my team did, I became more assertive and took charge of my little corner of the department. As a result, I was promoted to director, my budget increased, and we were able to take on more challenging but interesting projects. While I can’t give the credit for all that success to my little garden at home, I am certain it had an impact.

Working From Home

We eventually moved out of our starter home and the garden that it came with. As the kids started to grow, wanting to play sports and needing bigger things, it became clear we needed a bigger home. Our new home has much more hard-scaping and even a small putting green (that we really don’t make much use of). Fortunately, it also has a small but manageable garden that my wife and I like to putter in.

We have recently started to grow large plants in pots to make better use of the hardscaping, and that has been just as rewarding. We have grape vines – amazing how big these can get in the summer – as well as a guava tree and a banana tree. We also grow pineapples and we have a wonderful orange tree as well. Most of these are in pots, too, so if we move again, they are coming along. We also have rose bushes, a large collection of succulents, and of course, lots of bulb flowers from daffodils to amaryllis.

While my wife still works outside the house, I now work from home. I spend most of my days staring at a screen – I have many. While I enjoy my work, it gives me headaches, eye strain, and all sorts of body aches if I’m at it too long. This is where being outdoors becomes crucial to maintaining my sanity.

We live in a very large, well-maintained, and very green neighborhood, with hiking trails into the hills behind us. I’m an avid walker, so I get out there as much as I can – it’s good exercise too – and it allows me to listen to my music and catch up on my podcasts. Nothing like walking between tall trees while listening to The Forest that Weeps by Wintersun:

(It may come as a surprise but many symphonic death metal bands draw from nature for their inspiration.)

Adding Some Science…

One thing that I learned from a book I listened to on one of my walks is that being out there with nature actually has psychosomatic health benefits. The color green in the trees and the bushes all around us, immerses us with feelings of harmony, growth, rejuvenation, and health.

I realize not everyone is into that touchy-feely stuff – no shame, I wasn’t either when I was working 9-5 every day, but I have evolved. There is also some solid science behind it. You see (pun intended), the eyes are most sensitive to green light and can discern more shades of green than other colors. This makes seeing green much more relaxing than, say, the “blue” light of a computer screen.

For someone like me who spends hours in front of a computer screen, this matters. What also matters is allowing the eyes to focus on something else more organic. A computer, phone, or TV screen tends to feel almost strobe-like after long hours focusing on them. This is why changing that focus to a caterpillar on a branch in the yard is so important.

If your eye doctor hasn’t told you yet, it’s important to take your eyes off your screen regularly. There is plenty of science behind that as well and many doctors recommend the 20-20-20 rule, which recommends taking a break from the screen every 20 minutes for at least 20 seconds, focusing on something 20 feet away. While I can’t say I am that strict about it, I do take the time to wander into the yard several times a day during my coffee breaks to stare at the flowers, the butterflies, or whatever piques my interest.

Of course, sitting in front of a screen is not good for the rest of the body either. While walking and hiking are great for cardio-vascular wellbeing, more movement is better. I’m not really a gym guy. I always felt that you can get enough fitness by just doing chores around the house – so if you’re one of those who hires a maid service and has a 24-hour fatness membership… well, you get the point.

So, this is where gardening comes in. It requires me to bend, lift, stretch, and pull to get some exercise and flexibility. Yeah, I know it’s not the same as doing bench presses, but the next time I need to dig up a tree root ball or move some potted trees, you are welcome to come over and compare.

Gardening Really is a Wonderful Hobby

Most people know that gardening and being in nature have many benefits. It’s not a mystery. What makes most people hesitate, though, is that they just don’t have the time. That’s what I thought every night when I sat on that patio thinking. What would I ever have the time to pull those weeds, trim that tree, and mow that lawn? What I eventually realized was that sitting in the hospital waiting to take my X-rays was also a huge waste of time.

The weird thing about gardening is that you can start as small as you like. You can start by buying a potted plant to put next to your computer so you can stare at it every 20 minutes. Any small start is still a start. Baby steps is how we learned to walk; now I’m happily putting in my 10K steps every day, and that didn’t happen overnight either.

There is one more reason that gardening is a wonderful hobby. Unless you have a mail-order plant business, chances are it’s radically different than your day job. Whether you work a 9-5 job, but especially if you work out of your own home, the best part about gardening is that it is completely different from what you do every day.

For most of us, gardening breaks the monotony, relieves us from a boring job, and it’s like a mini vacation you can take every day. Even if you ignore all the other reasons why it’s good for you, the fact that you are doing something different from what you always do will reward you in spades. It did for me.

Is “Slow Fashion” the New Trend?

At a time when small businesses need all the help they can get, popular media shouldn’t be limiting their potential by coining silly terms.

Typical small business store selling clothing and accessories.
(Photo by Laura Peruchi on Unsplash)

A recent Time Magazine article titled, How Trump’s Trade War Could Boost Slow Fashion, suggested that slow fashion is a new trend that could avoid the worst effects of Trump’s tariff regime. I talk to a lot of small business owners, some who produce or procure clothes but also many who sell other products. I think it is about much more than just fashion. The term slow fashion is limited in the scope of what we are witnessing and negatively impacts many small businesses.

I don’t want to attack the Time Magazine article point by point. I don’t think that’s constructive because they are merely reporting something they believe to be more universally accepted. While their reporting does perpetuate the error, I would rather address that universally accepted idea, which I believe to be the bigger issue.

It is About Much More Than Fashion

What we are seeing is a trend to buy local and from small businesses. It’s not new, and it is not limited to fashion. I wrote an earlier article called A Silver Lining for Small Businesses During These Troubled Times, discussing the reasons we are seeing a change in where people prefer to shop and why.

The main point of the article is that this is a historical phenomenon that has been observed many times before, especially during difficult times. When political and economic events cause social upheavals, customers tend to seek out things like arts and crafts that help them forget those things.

That article explained that our current troubled times will impact businesses that produce and sell arts and crafts. However, I also explained that this isn’t limited to just that, it also affects vendors “of foods, plants, candles, clothes, and just about anything else being sold at local fairs.” Vendors who produce and sell clothes are included, but it isn’t just about them.

The Times Magazine article focuses on the Trump Administration’s executive orders, and how these raised tariffs and eliminated exemptions for foreign manufacturers like Temu and Shein. The implication is that the executive orders effectively create a protectionist environment for small businesses that produce locally.

While this is true, the impact is not just on the fashion industry. As a matter of fact, the article’s web page happens to have an advertisement for Temu (ironically) that I have copied here:

Only two items here are “fashion” items. Obviously, Temu carries far more products than just clothing, handbags and shoes. That is the point: this trend is about much more than fashion.

It’s Also About More than Economics

Another misconception is that this trend is just about economics. Many other news outlets make the same suggestion. For example, Business Wire has an article about the slow death of Fast Fashion, and Outlook Business contrasts Fast Fashion with Slow Fashion, and that’s just scratching the surface - it’s such a popular topic that it’s becoming a meme.

These articles and many others like it, attribute “President Trump's sweeping tariff announcements,” as the main reason for the death of Fast Fashion. Whatever Trump’s reasons were for signing these executive actions, they are more than an economic tool.

While they certainly will have an economic impact, they will also have a social and political impact. We’ve already seen how the goodwill that existed between Canadian and US citizens has visibly cooled as a result of tariffs.

Tourism will also be impacted. According to Fortune, the industry will be directly impacted: “Visits are expected to fall 5.1%, down from an earlier view for an 8.8% increase. Spending by foreign tourists is expected to tumble 11%, representing a loss of $18 billion this year.”

Let’s remember that those visitors from abroad also purchase from small businesses when they are here. It bears mentioning that most travel agencies are also small businesses. This is not just an economic impact but also one that changes social, personal, and even familial relationships.

My point is that the result will be farther-reaching than just economics. Small business owners, as an industry, and not just fashion sellers, need to understand this shift. This will allow them to better adapt to the changes.

Are flower shops slow fashion?
(Photo by Amina Filkins on Pexels)

This Shift Shouldn’t Be Seen as “Slow”

Calling it Slow Fashion hobbles small businesses. The news media are calling it slow because it focusses on an environmentally sustainable, ethically produced approach to retail, according to the Time Magazine article. That is a false narrative that suggests this approach is a hobbled alternative to faster, more profitable production. It suggests a negative value proposition to business owners, customers, and also to investors.

Products that are environmentally and ethically produced can also be fast, profitable, and a good investment. It is a popular opinion, especially in the finance industry, that the return on investment is not at the same level as that of mass-produced goods from less reputable sources.

This criticism is outdated. Many environmentally and ethically produced goods today don’t fit that model anymore. Many industries have already adapted to producing better and healthier products, often with a better Return On Investment (ROI) to boot.

Small business owners are also aware of this. Those who don’t produce their own products because they are resellers already source from environmentally and ethically sound suppliers. Supply chains already incorporate those changes, and the process isn’t necessarily slow.

On the other hand, those small businesses that do produce their own goods are also on board. They would rather produce environmentally sound and ethical products because they see it as an added benefit. Most of the small business owners I have come to know over the years advertise this on their websites, on social media, and in person to their customers.

Speaking of the customers, they are more demanding than ever before. They want environmentally and ethically produced products in their homes. Since the trend is to buy more locally produced goods, customers can also better verify that they are. The products are there, and so is the demand.

These customers will accept that hand-made and small business goods might take a bit longer to create, and so they will wait for them. However, it is still faster, more convenient, and more reassuring than having it produced abroad, arriving on a container ship from someone far away they hardly know.

The Word “Fashion” is Narrowly Targeted

It shouldn’t need to be repeated here, but the word Fashion is typically directed at women, and especially young teen girls. It is marketed directly at impressionable young teens as a necessity rather than an option. Just look at how many fashion influencers flood social media with their posts every day. They are seen as icons, heroes, and celebrities, especially if they manage to earn income doing it.

The problem with the term is that it belittles small business owners. It lumps them in with a non-serious crowd when, in reality, running a successful business is very serious. It is hard work; it requires constant learning, and it requires solid business skills. While I realize that some influencers do put in hard work to create successful businesses, that is not the image that the public has of them, regardless of how effective they are at it.

While I can’t be certain that the intent by whoever coined the phrase slow fashion was to belittle small business owners and their hard work, the end result is that it does. As any small business owner is painfully aware, being taken seriously by everyone from 9-5 employees to owners of larger businesses is an ongoing problem. If you doubt me on that, I urge you to try and secure a bank loan for your small business sometime; good luck with that.

The fundamental problem with this image is that it hurts small businesses. Obviously, not qualifying for that loan is a problem, but more directly, it perpetuates that negative image to customers. It is imperative to build a good relationship with the customers, so if they see the business owner as unserious, then it impacts sales.

More importantly, the tariffs, the political issues, and inflation will already make it difficult for small businesses to succeed and grow in the near future. What small business owners don’t need at this time is for the media to perpetuate an image that can undermine their success.

So, this goes to all the article writers that I have quoted above, and to the rest of the news media out there: stop it! Find a better term. Slow Fashion is not the one small business owners need right now.