Toilet Paper

Toilet Paper is one of those insignificant commodities that you just can't do without. When you go shopping it's one of those things that you just automatically stick in the trolley, and you can buy really cheap or really expensive toilet paper. Plain, greyish white in single ply, or pretty colours with patterns in baby soft double ply. I even recently discovered you can buy quilted toilet paper, for that luxurious pampered finish. If you like to harmonise your bathroom you can even mix and match your toilet paper to make it that special accessory that just adds the finishing touch.

A few years ago, while attending a motivational conference sponsored by a promotion and marketing company, the guest speaker shared a really surprising piece of information, the result of which came from a research study they had run. The average South African, in the average economy bracket spends more money on toilet paper every month, then they do on improving or empowering their own minds. As you can imagine, the audience roared with laughter at the ludicrous nature of these findings, and as with most good presentations the message was simple and impactful.

I gave a lot of thought to this supposedly preposterous piece of information, and even did some of my own investigations. We spend a large portion of our income on pampering our physical bodies, from our homes and the furniture we have inside, from the clothes that we wear to the food we eat. From the toiletries like toilet paper which I agree is a necessity, to the cleaning material which wash our clothes, clean our dishes and make our homes the pleasant comfortable places they are. These are all still to feed, nourish, comfort and pamper the physical.

And arguably, our homes and the things that surround us, can indeed create an atmosphere that does allow us to rest our minds from the daily stresses of life, inspire our creativity and provide a sanctuary to restore peace and harmony within.

But still, when last did you spend money on a product that would stretch your imagination, improve your memory, increase your literacy ability, or even help you to lose weight, and I am not talking about popping a pill or drinking a shake!

How important is education, knowledge and learning? And what of body image and self-esteem!
What about how your body actually works?

I was shocked, but shouldn't have been to discover that the diet industry in the UK is worth millions. Millions in pounds that is, but billions in Rands! It's easy to pop a pill that will bring you instantaneous weight loss, but have you read the small print on the enclosed leaflet, are you in fact one of those people who just drops that very important bit of paper into the dustbin? Next time, stop and read the enclosed directions, they have all sorts of information that will at least educate your mind a little bit on what it is you are putting into your body. You might even find that following the instructions will bring you more success with your endeavours.

The funny thing is, your brain is like a muscle, and your mind is like a sponge. The more you use your brain, the better it will work. The more information you put into your mind, the more your minds capacity will increase soaking up everything you can learn. The more you stretch your imagination, the greater your imagination will be. We find it necessary to spend almost all of our income on taking care of our physical beings, and yet our most powerful resource, our brains, our minds... the very thing that usually helps us to earn the money we spend on our bodies, is the thing we know the least about.

Is improving your brains ability and increasing your mind power always the last item on your shopping list..... or do you have budget for books, courses and training.... to improve your abilities and empower self-esteem and confidence in yourself?

May 2003 Copyright Mands and WhyWeight