The whole basis of the work I do in my clinic is about change and supporting others to make sustainable changes.
I wonder if we can all consider making some change to benefit others at Christmas time!
An email came my way the other day and I sent it on to all in my email list. There was a bit of bagging China in it and I did make a comment at the top that I wasn’t really keen on that but sent the whole email anyway. I received a response from one of my friends asking me to check out how she had rewritten the email to send on to her friends. She graciously gave me the thought that maybe I could have given a little more time to something that I thought was valuable.
So here it is!
The shops are filled with Christmas stuff for people to buy. Do you mindlessly buy goods that aren’t needed? What could we do differently to make our kind hearted giving more valuable?
I’m very glad you asked because I have some ideas from the email I received and from a couple of friends who responded to what I sent them. Now I would love to share them with you.
Instead of giving less useful gifts that we have spent our hard earned money on and which are likely to break or be cast aside in no time, how about we buy locally produced items or give gift vouchers that will actually benefit the people receiving the gift and those providing a service?
Let’s think LOCAL – not global!
How about giving GIFT VOUCHERS, that will support local, small businesses that will enable someone you care about to have any of the following:
- a massage or a facial;
- their hair cut/styled/permed or coloured;
- join a gym or attend classes in yoga or tai chi;
- obtain plants or other items from a local garden centre;
- have their lawn mowed (or perhaps you can do it yourself for them);
- a voucher for work to be done around the home by a handyman, plumber, carpenter or electrician;
- something for the car – a voucher from a mechanic or for a car wash or car detail;
- a meal out at a family-owned (not large chain) cafe or restaurant;
- someone to wash the outside of the house or clean the gutters;
- someone to do the ironing or clean the inside of the house for a week or two;
- support a small local theatre – there are some small professional ones as well as various amateur dramatic society that put on excellent performances;
- subscribe to local musical performances;
- Besides gift vouchers, stalls can be found – usually in local markets – where there are handcrafted items made out of wool, wood or recycled materials. You can find lovely soaps, skin-care creams and lotions, jams, pickles – all totally different in quality to the chemical-laden products found in the supermarkets.
This is just the beginning of the ideas that can flow. Google your local businesses and talk to your family and friends and see where you can really give a gift of meaning. I’m sure the joy this will bring to them will be double for you because you will see that you have really connected and given true intention to what you want to do for the receiver of your gift.
The other thing that is so important to me is that at Christmas time there are many animals that don’t find peace, love and happiness. Even if you gave up one form of meat this Christmas with the intention of saving a life and not causing harm that would make a difference. All lives are precious!
And speaking of animals, the other great suggestion I received was about using animals so they have a good life and they benefit the people they go to. I am sure many of your have already heard about schemes like this and it is still worth putting out there.
“This came to me from a friend in response to my original email – If you go to The Salvation army website you can go to “Gifts that keep on giving” These are great for people who have so much. We bought a goat ($50) & some chickens ($10 each) & they will see that some needy person in 3rd world countries will get something they can use to get out of the poverty trap. Then tell your people what you have done, for them. Another good idea?”
It sure is. I would love to hear any other great ideas where we can change what we do at Christmas and instead of feeding big business, think local and in need. What are you planning on doing differently this Christmas after reading this blog?
If you love this blog please pass it on to others and share your own passion for how you do Chirstmas to benefit others. If you like what I do then I invite you to join my email list on my website www.rainbowatma.com.au.
I am really excited by the possibility of people taking up this idea with action.
May all beings be well and happy.
Linda
