The Cubicle Times

CAFETERIA – Because of a cost cutting program (if you call that a program), the company decided a while ago to stop supplying styrofoam cups in the cafeteria or meeting rooms.  When this was announced, we thought it was the end… of the very end >_<’

When suppliers come in for meetings with us engineers, we have to prepare our own cups, or we have to buy them a soda instead of offering coffee in the cafeteria since there are no cups.  Yeah, it is a bit weird to reach into your pockets for the loose change to buy a can of soda instead of people gathering and smiling around the coffee machine… but hey, if it means the company gets to save some money, it’s alright.  Wait, one note, I still don’t understand why the executives get to have limo’s when they go to the airport… (sorry, that’s a side note!)

Speaking of saving money by cutting down on the “free” styrofoam cups, I think oftentimes we think of “free” in terms of the cost, or the dollar sign.  Cups cost money, water costs money, coffee beans cost money, and basically everything you see costs money (even the buy-one-get-one-free deals you see in the mall).   So what does “free” mean in this economic downturn?

I think many “invisible” things are free, and you get more satisfaction from these “free” things than that from the buy-one-get-one free deals ~!

1. Smiles are free, so why be stingy on giving them?

2. Love is free, so why not try loving a bit more and hope for some in return? Even if none is returned, it’s still …free :P

3. A pat on the shoulder and hugs with your wife and kids are free, but it builds up relationships and bonds people together, and man, that’s priceless!

4. Chatting with a good friend is free, so use your free cell phone minutes after 9pm to call him/her up and see what’s up? Well, free minutes are really “not” free, but you get the point :P

5. Jogging in the park is free, so get out there to shed the pounds and enjoy the beauty of nature!

6. Dancing like a maniac and posting your dance video on YouTube is free, and maybe you will create some free smiles to complete the circle~

7. etc… the list goes on…

Of course, posting a comment in this entry is free, and let’s not forget that we are free here in the US (and other countries), and that definitely does NOT have a price tag on it! So get out there and share some of these “free” stuff~~~