A Joyful Diversion

SHOPPING, for millions of people, is a joyful diversion! It's a good way to break away from ordinary routines or from responsibilities which have become humdrum. For many of these shoppers, looking for items on sale and sniffing out bargains is an antidote for the blues or for boredom. Even window shopping, it seems, can oftentimes squelch a feeling of the doldrums.

Going shopping gets people out of the house and away from the job. Therefore, visiting shops in order to examine or buy merchandise is a happy leisure experience for a huge number of individuals.

For some shoppers, the hunt for items to purchase can bring almost as much pleasure and satisfaction as does acquiring new possessions. Comparing prices, brands, styles, sizes, and colors at different stores becomes part of the shopping game. And, looking for one item can be as much fun for many shoppers as going on a shopping spree is for others. Shopping for items truly needed, or for optional or extravagant items can be equally enjoyable.

The amount of money a shopper has available does, of course, make a difference in terms of the number of items which can be bought - and the quality of those items. However, a shopper with a limited budget available for making purchases can still enjoy the act of shopping.

The particular place for shopping is not always the most important factor. Most people who love to shop usually find ample satisfaction just about anywhere. When it comes to shopping possibilities, the choices are abundant for most shoppers. From mom and pop operations, to name-brand stores, to strip malls, to large mall complexes with national chains; places of business - hoping to attract shoppers and their dollars - exist everywhere!

In all fairness, however, it must be pointed out that everyone does not enjoy shopping. In fact, a large number of individuals would prefer to do almost anything else. For them, shopping is a major pain. But, for the other group, many of whom believe they were "born to shop," the experience is a pure delight, a happy occasion, and - to be sure - a joyful diversion.
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-- The photo above was taken at Branson Landing, a new major shopping mall complex, located on the banks of Lake Taneycomo in historic downtown Branson, Mo.