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love + light

12/18/2017

6 Comments

 
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I've been on a mission to live a Christmas this year that leaves our tribe with the sense of having experienced love + light. One of the ways that we are looking to experience this is through a different kind of giving. I don't at all wish to call attention to or garner credit for ourselves. I just thought that sharing here could possibly spark some further creativity out there.  :) 

This weekend these girls + I spent a little time writing notes of encouragement + rolling them up with dollar bills. This idea was sparked by someone else who shared doing something similar...so I thought I'd share too in case anyone else might have fun with it. (Highly recommended! No dollars even necessary.)
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Before we got out at our first stop, we said a prayer + asked that these tiny gifts would communicate a message of love + encouragement just where it was needed.
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A dollar doesn't seem like much, but we went straight to a few places that it could actually make a little difference.
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A few of these were placed on washers + dryers at a busy laundromat...among the feminine hygiene products + nerf footballs at the dollar store...in the pockets of cute winter coats + button down shirts at the thrift store...
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...and among the cat food + 99cent avocados at a grocery store. This was some of the most fun we've had during this holiday season! We've got plans to keep the generosity flowing + we're all looking forward to it!  :)

A few other ideas for a different kind of giving:
-discuss a cause to which the whole tribe would like to contribute some money, place an envelope under the tree + let each decide the amount they contribute  
-give kids a dollar amount + let them decide how to spend it in the giving catalogs
-combine McDonalds gift cards with handmade cards for homeless neighbors
-buy some personal pizzas + pass them out
-gift feminine products, natural haircare products, 
toiletries, lotion, etc. to a women's shelter
-make cookies + take them to the places we love 
-pass cards to the people at the grocery store who give us our milk bottle refunds, fill our bulk containers + check them out 
-write cards for the garbage men + mail carrier

-take a walk + spread birdseed for the animals on Christmas Day...doing this once a year offers a day of celebration + ease to our fellow creatures

Love,
​Jane
6 Comments
Priscilla Bettis link
12/18/2017 06:07:11 am

I love the Christmas rolls idea! I like the other ideas, too, especially the McD's cards tucked inside Christmas cards for the homeless. How sweet.:-) There's a yarn craft group in our town that ties homemade hats and mittens to trees outside the Social Services building downtown, free for the taking. I like that idea, too.

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Jane link
12/18/2017 09:25:59 am

That's a great idea! Love it. :)

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Linda
12/18/2017 06:10:58 am

What a wonderful idea! I love this!

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Jane link
12/18/2017 09:25:08 am

It was a lot of fun! :)

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Kelly
12/18/2017 06:51:42 pm

http://tobyhemenway.com/125-finding-a-sense-of-surplus/
This reminded me of your practice of giving away your small surplus.

Reply
Jane link
12/19/2017 08:27:24 am

What a beautiful article. Thank you for sharing it. I'm honored to be associated with it in any tiny way. :) Also interesting...I made note of looking for his Gaia book this week again after hearing it mentioned somewhere. :)

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