Every holiday season we spend a lot of time thinking of what gifts to buy for our spouses, kids, extended family, and friends. Every year I seem to get more and more tired of that exercise realizing that I don't need and I don't want more stuff. This year I announced that I do not want any presents, and that if anyone wants to make me happy they can donate their money and/or time to the charity of their choice.
I had written a very long post on the subject and then trashed it realizing that there are people who are much more eloquent than I am so I will let them speak.
One of my favorite columnists is New York Times columnist Nikolas Kristof who writes a lot about empowering women around the world. Check his and his wife's webpage. He also has a FaceBook page. Many of his articles moved me to tears but none made as big an impression as this one about human sex trafficking. Girls are young as 6 are sold to brothels... just read his column because I cannot bring myself to write about it.
 |
| Empowerment pin - jewlery from Somaly Mam Foundation Store |
Fortuantely there are amazing people out there like Somaly Mam who risks her life saving those girls and providing them with shelters. Nikolas writes about her in this column.
I do not need to say more, well maybe except that I lied about not wanting gifts. I will get a gift for myself, I will donate to Somaly Mam Foundation and find out if there are other ways I can get involved.
Please, consider this season buying gifts from sources that help those less fortunate stand on their feet. We all have so much but if we need to get more, maybe we can empower those who have little by the choices we make this holiday season.
14 comments:
Kudos to you!
Hi Ewa! I feel the same way. Many years, when we didn't have much money, we just bought presents for the children, and not for my husband and me.
Now, the only reason why I don't do that every year is because giving gifts encourages my children to be kind within the family. Between my 4 kids, there has been a *lot* of deep-rooted arguments with long-lasting resentment. But the thing that always happens at Christmas is that all of the children are very good to each other. They take a *lot* of thought about what the other sibling would really enjoy. And they do that with my husband and me too. So I want to keep encouraging that in our family. But, I really don't need presents. I usually ask for something our house needs--like vacuum cleaners.
:-) Marion
Ewa--Good on you. That's what it's all about...we all need to take a page from your book. Thanks for bringing this one to our attention.
It's even hard to read about that kind of stuff because I just don't want to believe that it still goes on. I know it does and it just makes me sick. I'm glad there are good people out there to help and I like your Christmas idea.
A really great post Ewa & I am going to check out the links! I think this is a great idea for people! In better times, I LOVE giving gifts but to give in the way you described is a great way to teach our kids that possessions is not what it is all about or to give a gift that comes from people less fortunate that make gifts. TV sort of tells kids that taking s what it is all about so they need to learn otherwise...
THANK YOU!
I agree! So often I just want to tell people not to get me anything. It would be far better to have less stuff and give to a good cause!
Well said. I know from my travels with students to Africa that for so many women in developing countries the earrings, necklaces and other jewelery items they make are the difference between feeding their family and not. Fair trade items like these are available in many places now, you just have to look for them.
A great post. We must not forget people who are less lucky than us.
And also we must not forget the animals locked in lagers waiting for the vivisection.
Thanks for this post.
My sister says the same thing about buying presents in holiday season. Last year she bought presents from UNICEF Shop:
http://www.charity-gifts.org/charities/unicef-shop
I agree with her! We've decided to buy gifts for children only.
This is really a great post, Ewa!
Ewa,
This is just so, so wonderful to read...and what an amazing soul you are...
i have been remiss on my blog reading lately. it's funny that many times you and i have had similar topics in mind and posted simultaneously. i guess in the environment we are now in - participating in the whole black friday madness just seems inherently wrong. keep making a righteous stand, and lets not forget to give all year long as well!
we buy goats and get the kids to choose chickens and water pumps in a gift catalog.
I've been running a micro-finance program with two of my friends from Nigeria. They go and invest in simple ideas that improve the lives of many people in villages in Nigeria, Kenya and Uganda.
What I found is that my family is like me. We like being together, laughing, eating, and travelling. And the "materialistic" gifts are nice, but there isn't a big difference if they are there or not.
I'm sure you know I love this post and agree 100% with everything. There are terrible things out in this world and making a difference to anyone is so great. Thanks for your very kind words on my blog. I've made it a mission of mine that we will meet one day and not stay only virtual friends...that I promise you.
4:19:50, you did it!!!! Congrats!!!
Post a Comment