Shifting Cyber Shopping to Humanity Investments

Black Friday and Cyber Monday after our Thanksgiving holiday here in the US, now keeps extending into more deals, more days and midnight deadlines. My email box has been tripled with so many urgent messages about sales that I really don’t care about or need. And at one time, I thought I did.

I wasn’t completely immuned.  Each time I went on a certain site and looked at the deals I thought I needed, I couldn't stop feeling the needs of the fire victims recently here in California, the hurricane victims still struggling and more news about loss daily.  Today I learned about a friend's beloved grandmother who died with Alzheimers and another dear friend's health challenges that resulted in losing her right foot.  As I clicked through the "cyber-deals" I felt a sense of deep sadness in where our humanity focus and attention is so swiftly redirected based on consumerism.

I am a consumer. I love fashion and beautiful art pieces. I enjoy fine wine. I savor super deals on necessities of my life. However, my whole need for things is shifting dramatically. Two years ago I was preparing for a move and cleared my condo of 18 years from top to bottom. Now, it's filling up again and I'm in constant contemplation of how to stop the collection of things I don't really need and how to politely encourage a different type of gift giving from my friends and family. .
 
My heart is guiding me to buy less and give more.  My whole being cringed with my stomach flipping each time another LAST CHANCE email appeared in my inbox today.  I kept thinking about the LAST CHANCES of all those running for their lives from the fires, the hurricanes, the bullets…especially those who it was their last chance to live.
 
My gift giving is shifting by honoring the person celebrating whatever special event it is in their life by investing in humanity through donations.  My request for any gifts given to me be in the form of a donation so I can contribute to the organizations and groups that are in need of support and help right now; especially ones who are assisting disasters and destructive acts of violence.  And my donation list is long as my passion rises.  Yet, I will prioritize with who is in need now and where there are still gaps many months after disasters happen.  I will keep posting where the prayers and donations will be flowing in a special section on my website.
 
My hope is to encourage others to create a wave of gift-giving donations instead of Cyber-shopping for "things" we don't need or are what we believe others need as gifts. 

​Looking forward to hearing your stories of where your heart is shifting in our ever-consuming world.