I am about knee-deep in boxes and packing piles. My "August Project" was to downsize from a fully furnished and over-stuffed two bedroom apartment down to a bedroom (or less). I am limited by space, both in transporting and storage, by time, and soon, by funds.
As I downsized my closet by more than half, I realized that I still have a lot of clothes. Sure, I donated a big pile of clothes, but I still have a closet, dresser and a stack of drawers full of clothes. Do I really need three orange-ish shirts? Do I really need six pairs of pants? Let's not even talk about shoes. I have my closet organized by color and I love looking down the row at the ROYGBIV rainbow of choices in the morning. It holds the promise of great possibility. :) Though the hangers hold many options of clothes, they also hold way more than a week or two's worth of clothes. However, limiting myself to only 10 shirts also limits me to only 10 options on any given day.
I also enjoy great variety in the kitchen. I keep a list on my fridge of all the fresh produce I have on hand to encourage me to make healthy choices. Considering that it is summer time in Iowa and my mother has an abudant garden, I consistently have a list too long for my "Produce Board". I can enjoy 5 different kinds of fruits or veggies in one day and have 5 more options the next day! Oh the life of luxury! Starting in just a couple of weeks, I will be living in Colorado on an even tighter food budget. Fresh, locally grown produce of all colors may become a hot commodity.
I like having options. I like having choices. I like my variety. But this is a luxury I never considered as such. *sigh*
I leave you with a part of a poem brought to my attention by Garrison Keiller in The Writer's Almanac on August 9, 2011. (I have it posted in my bedroom to remind me that it's OK to downsize.)
In Walden, Thoreau wrote: "Cultivate poverty like a garden herb, like sage. Do not trouble yourself much to get new things, whether clothes or friends. Turn the old; return to them. Things do not change; we change. Sell your clothes and keep your thoughts. God will see that you do not want society. If I were confined to a corner of a garret all my days, like a spider, the world would be just as large to me while I had my thoughts about me."
And, "If the day and the night are such that you greet them with joy, and life emits a fragrance like flowers and sweet-scented herbs, is more eleastic, more starry, more immortal, -- that is your success. All nature is your congratulation, and you have cause momentarily to bless yourself."
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Fundraising
ugh. I'd rather run a marathon.
I wasn't even the type to ask my parents for money when I was a teenager. But here I am, 8 years past teen-dom, sending out letters to all my friends and family, trying to collect money to support my year of voluntary service in Denver. According to this letter, here's my situation: "The Dwell program provides housing, groceries, insurance, emergency medical grants and travel reimbursement. It costs them $14,000 a year per volunteer. Part of my responsibility is to raise $6,500 of the total. The remainder of the cost is covered by the agency I will be working with (DenUM) and the partner denominations. "
That's right, folks. Six thousand, five hundred dollars. I could try to convince six and a half people to donate $1,000 each. Or maybe thirteen people to donate $500 each. Or maybe I could find 130 people to donate $50. I really don't expect people to donate more than $20, but that would mean I need to find 325 people that are willing to do that. I only have 416 friends on Facebook, and many of them are former campers and staff and under the age of 21. It seems less likely that they would have an extra $20 lying around . . . .
I am very thankful to my church for helping support a great majority of my fundraising process. It cuts down the number of needed donors grately. I am also very thankful for some of the groups that have made contributions on my behalf.
So far in this process, I have been blown away by the generosity of my friends and family. My hope for $20 has been a much bigger reality. Inspite of my hesistance to share, I have been overwhelmed by the generous financial support and the emotional supportive as well! (I speak very generally of "people" here.) When people ask what my plans are, the eager eye contact and thoughtful follow up questions prove that their intrigue is more than just a social chit chat. (I also see a glint of wishful thinking as they picture life in Denver.) It has been humbling and very honoring as well. I am touched and thankful.
This is not to say that my fundraising is done. Not so much. If you are interested in joining my network of supporters, you may do so by going to the DOOR website (http://www.doornetwork.org/) and clicking on the "Donate" button. Please put my name and "Denver" in the description or designation line.
To summarize my thoughts for the night ... People want to help. You just have to give them a chance.
I wasn't even the type to ask my parents for money when I was a teenager. But here I am, 8 years past teen-dom, sending out letters to all my friends and family, trying to collect money to support my year of voluntary service in Denver. According to this letter, here's my situation: "The Dwell program provides housing, groceries, insurance, emergency medical grants and travel reimbursement. It costs them $14,000 a year per volunteer. Part of my responsibility is to raise $6,500 of the total. The remainder of the cost is covered by the agency I will be working with (DenUM) and the partner denominations. "
That's right, folks. Six thousand, five hundred dollars. I could try to convince six and a half people to donate $1,000 each. Or maybe thirteen people to donate $500 each. Or maybe I could find 130 people to donate $50. I really don't expect people to donate more than $20, but that would mean I need to find 325 people that are willing to do that. I only have 416 friends on Facebook, and many of them are former campers and staff and under the age of 21. It seems less likely that they would have an extra $20 lying around . . . .
I am very thankful to my church for helping support a great majority of my fundraising process. It cuts down the number of needed donors grately. I am also very thankful for some of the groups that have made contributions on my behalf.
So far in this process, I have been blown away by the generosity of my friends and family. My hope for $20 has been a much bigger reality. Inspite of my hesistance to share, I have been overwhelmed by the generous financial support and the emotional supportive as well! (I speak very generally of "people" here.) When people ask what my plans are, the eager eye contact and thoughtful follow up questions prove that their intrigue is more than just a social chit chat. (I also see a glint of wishful thinking as they picture life in Denver.) It has been humbling and very honoring as well. I am touched and thankful.
This is not to say that my fundraising is done. Not so much. If you are interested in joining my network of supporters, you may do so by going to the DOOR website (http://www.doornetwork.org/) and clicking on the "Donate" button. Please put my name and "Denver" in the description or designation line.
To summarize my thoughts for the night ... People want to help. You just have to give them a chance.
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