Wednesday November
27, 2019
The greatest degree of inner tranquility comes from the development of love and compassion. The more we care for the happiness of others, the greater is our own sense of well-being.
Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama
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What you have here my
dear, are abundant opportunities disguised as insurmountable problems. May God bless you to see your difficulties as challenges and your abilities as the solution.
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BUY NOTHING
This town in Pennsylvania grew closer by giving each other free stuff.
By April Hall
I had a gala to attend. I am not a gala person. I do not have the wardrobe for it. I barely have the wardrobe for a long weekend. Then I found out there was a theme, “Into the Blue.” Now I needed a blue dress for a gala.
I logged on to my community’s Buy Nothing Facebook page in Lansdowne, Pa., thinking I would probably stump my neighbors this time — even though the group’s website says “Buy Nothing Groups = Random Acts of Kindness All Day Long.”
The page, singularly devoted to the exchange of free goods and services, has amazed me since I joined in the summer of 2016. I’ve seen a stranger help move a dresser, another mow the lawn of a very pregnant woman and a third visit a neighbor’s yard to give advice on building a habitat for insects and animals. There’s even a woman who likes to iron and will smooth out any clothes you bring by her house.
In just a few days, there were 20 comments — some with photos of a potential dress, some with descriptions. I drove around town one Saturday afternoon picking up four to try on.
I already had been the grateful recipient of a leather couch, a vintage overcoat and soba noodles. I’ve also given items including a public transportation pass, homegrown kale and a toddler snowsuit.
The Buy Nothing Project was launched by two friends in Washington state in 2013 as a hyperlocal gift-economy experiment, and it has since expanded to 30 countries with hundreds of sites worldwide. Its website says it will “give you a hands-on chance to take part in a social movement spreading across the globe, enabling people and communities to commit episodic acts of daily good together.The groups are different from neighborhood email groups or sites such as
Craigslist or Freecycle. The rules for Buy Nothing groups state no selling, bartering, trading or even listing the monetary value of items. It is only a place to give away or ask for free stuff.
It’s even discouraged to suggest where items can be purchased. For that reason, there aren’t any “looking for recommendations” posts or advertisements of any kind. Lending is allowed.
When I drove around that Saturday to pick up dresses, here’s what I got:
Two dresses from the mother of a friend — one was a Victorian-style lace mother-of-the-groom gown, and the other had an Asian style. She also loaned me a beaded blue clutch..READ MORE.
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A MOTHER'S PROBLEM
I am at my wits end. I don't know but my oldest son thinks he has a warrant out for his arrest. I always let things that affects my kids over power me. I have no money, so there is nothing I can do to help his if this is true. I can't do anything and I don't know what to do. So, since I am up against a brick wall I am turning it over to God. Lord I am giving this situation over to You. Take control of this. If there
is something that I can do, Lord, please show me. If there is nothing I can do, Lord, let me move out of Your way. Give me Your Peace. Give me and my son the strength to lean on You. I have no choice. I refuse to let this situation take over my life. Please pray that my child can find God and His Peace in this. I know where we don't see a way out God had it covered. Please pray for me and my Child. Thank you.
- gloria
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