A Day of Mixed Feelings

It is a season filled with ads for things to buy everywhere. But it is also a time for giving, and lots of places are in need of food, funds and gifts to help others through the holiday season. I cry as I read the stories of others who have opened their hearts to those in need.
It is hard to balance those haves and have-nots, when we have been in a situation ourselves when shopping trips were merely looking and thinking of what we would like to buy, if we ever could. Our daughter had a sleepover last night with a wonderful friend, whose father lost his computer programming job 6 months ago, courtesy of GWB and friends. Today's paper had a blurb that she had won an award for a "Character Counts" essay. And we shared Thanksgiving with a family, where the dad who works in the non-profit world, had his job eliminated, also courtesy of GWB. These folks outfit themselves and their house with garage sale finds.
Reportedly, people are spending cautiously, not knowing what the economy holds after the election. I see four years and more ahead with lots more folks losing jobs, not being able to make ends meet or having the funds to consider spending. All the while, GWB and his friends will be reaping the benefits of tax cuts and destroying the environment.
In our personal respose, we are engaged in a massive giveaway of stuff we don't use, need or cannot fit into. It is one way of clearing out space, in a Feng Shui method, to allow good energy and health into our home. It is also helps us feel like we are doing something to make it easier for other people who don't have adequate resources or stuff.
We have our car loaded with bags of clothing and household goods to pass on to others. A small step to making it better, but if everyone took one small step, it would result in a big one...