A Global Economy has and always will be essential. By all means, I buy certain products from other countries. Let’s say I have a taste for German Chocolate, Italians make super cool shoes, etc. But I still try my very best to support the USA and make an extra effort to keep my spending dollars here.
Read the Tag is It Made in America?
I am blessed to be able to travel all over the USA. I love to explore, especially nature, and I’m an open-road lover. So, while I’m visiting other states, or National Parks, etc., it’s fun to check out the gift shops. Whether it’s a postcard, a little magnet or t-shirt I enjoy helping tourism. However, it irks me to no end to see American-themed trinkets made elsewhere. What? With all our talent here, we can’t make our own Red, White, and Blue trinkets?
Go Privately Owned to Support Small Business Owners
Sometimes, when you’re stuck in an airport or a major city, you have no choice but to grab food from a chain restaurant. But whenever I can, I make a point to choose a locally owned spot instead. St. Louis is full of incredible homegrown restaurants, and now more than ever—with new rules, regulations, and constant challenges—these businesses are hurting. So visit them when you can, or use curbside pickup. Keep your dollars as local as possible.
Help Others as Much as You Can
We all have limited time—often just a few spare hours, if that—and volunteering isn’t always easy to fit in. But please try. It matters more than you know. Whether you offer business advice, coaching, teaching, or simply help a fellow American in need, it all contributes to a stronger community.
Case in point: I came home from a weekend trip to discover a huge branch had fallen from one of my trees, barely missing the house. As I pulled into the driveway, my young neighbor—someone who usually keeps to himself—was outside. He had already cleaned up and bagged as much of the debris as he could. He said, “Kirsten, I’m so sorry you came back to deal with this, and I know you work early tomorrow.” I could’ve cried—not because of the tree, but because someone I hardly knew had spent hours trying to make my life a little easier. Remember that? Neighbors helping neighbors. Let’s bring that back.
Last but Not Least: Get Involved (Gulp) More
Why does it take a major crisis—you know the one—to make us realize that, despite all our American talent and innovation, we can still end up short on basic essentials like toilet paper and hand sanitizer? I’m no economics major, and I know supply chains are complicated. But at some point, it comes down to fairness, collaboration, and willingness to rethink things.
What if we paid $2 to $10 more for an item if it were manufactured here in the U.S.? Would it really break us? We need to be open-minded about wages, understand our global competition, and ask ourselves tough questions about what we value. And at the very least, we should stay engaged with our local businesses, our politics, and our communities.
In the end, I celebrate the diversity of this beautiful, imperfect “melting pot.” I love our people and our history. One of my favorite quotes has always been: “Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.” —John F. Kennedy. Maybe it’s time we take that to heart again.
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