Are You Willing To Live Your Values?

About a month ago I started training to do a work-from-home call center type job for an internationally known company that sells high-end purses, shoes, etc. in malls, outlet malls and better department stores. When I got the gig I was excited because it would help me stay afloat.

However, on the first day of training I was told that the purses and shoes were leather. I should have known that, because back in my bougie days, before I was vegan-for-the-animals and vegan-for-the-planet, I had carried these purses, among others. I had the worn the shoes. I had admired and lusted after those that others owned. But somehow, I hadn't thought about it until that day.

And during the training I struggled. I kept telling myself I wasn't forcing anyone to buy these items. Most people would be calling in to check on their orders. But I was told that I should try and upsell on every call. I still sort-of thought I could do it, but then the other day as I was looking at the web site I saw "calf leather." Somehow the other description had seem more innocuous. But if I can't use cosmetics that animal test, if I can't eat meat, how can I sell leather?

So, I decided to do some more research. I guess I kind-of knew where my rabbit-hole-research would take me and I was finally ready to open my eyes to the harm of leather. But what I found horrified me even more.

The environmental impact of leather is extremely toxic. The chemicals used in making leather are extremely toxic that have been linked to respiratory problems, skin problems, reproductive problems and even cancer. Furthermore, a large amount of water is used in producing leather. Water, which is a resource that is dwindling and is very necessary, is polluted by leather production. And there can even be residual chemicals left on the leather when a consumer buys it. The chemicals involved in tanning leather include calcium hydroxide, sodium sulfide, sulfuric acid, formic acid, aniline based dyes and solvents. If you want to know more about this, I'm including a link.

Deforestation is also problematic, and leather contributes to that cycle. 80% of the clearing in the Amazon Forest is due to cattle ranching and leather is part of the problem. Leather makes cattle ranching more money and keeps the margins higher for the ranchers. Globally, leather makes up 26% of a slaughterhouse's products. I'm opposed to factory farming and this is 26% of factory farming.

So, after doing my research I was even more appalled. I found myself struggling more and more. We had moved into taking practice calls and I was actually doing well and turning into a b*tch around the house (ask my dogs). The other morning I woke up and I knew I had to quit. No matter how much money I was making (which honestly wasn't much), no matter how much I thought I needed the money, it's not worth compromising my values. So I quit.

Afterwards, I mentioned it to one of my daughter's and she thought I should just suck it up. No, my values matter to me. I have to be true to myself. No compromises.