Our daughter was eight years old and was wearing a new pair of running shoes purchased just prior to a family vacation. All was well until we spent an afternoon at a mall near our hotel. As we exited the first store the security alarm sounded indicating a problem with the merchandise that had just been purchased. The lady running the checkout was very apologetic and said she must have overlooked a security device. After double checking she sent us on our way where once again our attempted departure triggered the alarm. She told us to keep going assuring us everything was fine and to ignore the apparent glitch in the system. But it wasn鈥檛 fine. At the next store we once again heard the sound of an alarm and caught the attention of the employees. By this time our eight year old was beside herself with worry. She had been carrying one of the shopping bags and was mortified that someone might think she had been trying to steal something. When we set off the alarm in a third store she was almost in tears. My husband was trying to console her while explaining to a clerk what we had been experiencing. Rather than just waving us on our way the employee decided to try and figure out what was going on. After a brief conversation she asked our daughter to remove her shoes and we followed her to an available check out. She then showed us that in one of the shoes the security chip had not been removed when we purchased them. It was no wonder we kept setting off the alarm in each store we visited.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Despite the fact they spend millions on security to protect their businesses from theft, it is estimated that retailers lose almost four billion dollars in Canada to shoplifters. The practice extends to our homes where we can spend $20 to $100 per month on personal systems. The security of our cars, homes and possessions is important to us. We want to protect what belongs to us against those that may try to harm or take it from us.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Security is serious, costly business but because people value what they own they are willing to pay for its protection. There are also those who require security personnel to keep themselves out of harm鈥檚 way. But in those cases the people being protected need to take their security as seriously as those hired to protect them. One wealthy family spent $2.7 million per year on a security team only to have the work undone by their 18-year old daughter. After elaborate plans and ruses to throw off the paparazzi the daughter posted a slew of Instagram photos revealing their secret family vacation spot.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Numerous times in the course of a day we need Login ID or personal identification numbers to undertake even basic transactions. Everything is password protected to the point that we need to maintain lists of which passwords provide which access. The irony is that while we protect our money and material possessions, many amongst us don鈥檛 treat other aspects of our lives with the same protection.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 When it comes to our pictures, comments and opinions millions take to cyberspace to post any and everything regardless of the impact it may have on family, friends, reputations, jobs or ambitions. And we best not put any confidence in privacy settings. People have long realized how ineffective those precautions are since they provide little in the form of real security.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Then of course there is the vast arena to which we can toss out accusations, humiliations and flippancy while standing behind a wall of anonymity. Employees vent their frustrations about customers and colleagues, people lash out in the heat of the moment with degrading comments, and personal grudges are carried out in the public eye. It is the ultimate airing of private grievances to an audience far larger and far more instantly accessible than at any time in history. What masquerades as momentary vindication in our cyber world soon turns to poison in the real world as the consequences of what has been said are experienced.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 We alarm our cars but put our jobs in jeopardy. We lock up our stuff but expose our relationships. We secure our possessions but unleash our emotions. Perhaps we need to remind ourselves that while replacing stolen or damaged goods is inconvenient and costly, our possessions are much more easily built back than our reputations. It is time to loosen the grip on our belongings and tighten the reins on our dignity, character and integrity. That鈥檚 my outlook.
