Friends ask me why I go to the Y even though it costs more than the oh-so-close-to-my-house national gym chain. Or why buy books through bookshop.org, instead of saving money by clicking around the big box Bezos behemoth? For the same reason I support arts organizations even though it means less coins in my wallet. The little money I spend should work double time by benefitting entities that do good in the world. We love a bargain, but is answering the call of more, more, more for me, me, me feeding into our consumerism addiction? And at what cost? Why not support The YMCA and its local programs for the benefit of all? Bookshop.org funnels a portion of my book money directly to my favorite indie bookstore. Supporting the arts and non-profits is a privilege for which I am thankful.
2017 ushered in a depressing trend of mistreating the less-thans and other-thans. Here we are again, a thousand times worse. I may be powerless to stop the top-down oppression, but I can resist the downward wave of indifference and grasp peace in my heart, fill my world with music and offer words that uplift, especially to strangers. It’s a tiny thing in the grand polluted scheme, but the effect on my weary heart is mighty.
More on this theme will be posted on my Wednesday Substack post at confessionsofacreative.substack.org.
Patty Mayeux Blog 
Leave a comment