Fundraising vulnerability
I launched the social media portion of my fundraising efforts for The Well For Life just a couple of days ago. The program I’m participating in wanted us to mail out snail mail letters to folks, so I did that last Monday. I’ve raised $325 already, from two donors!! But now we’re getting into the part of fundraising that makes me feel uncomfortable. The follow-up asks. The repeated reminders. Feeling like I’m asking too much, or knowing that folks already have heavy loads and feeling like I’m out of line for even asking.
Dontchaknow in polite society you don’t talk to folks about money? Dontchaknow that you’re weak if you have to ask others for monetary help? Dontchaknow you’re weak for asking for help at all?
These societal norms are bullshit, by the way. Constructions of white supremacist, patriarchal, capitalist culture (only a couple of hundred years old) to keep us feeling like we should be doing everything on our own and to keep us separated. I’m glad the Anne Braden Anti-Racist Organizer program is challenging us on them. Even if it’s uncomfortable.
I’m asking with love in my heart for folks to send some monetary love to an organization’s whose work is important to me. Me, opening up space for folks to help me, that’s an area I need more practice in anyway. I’ve actually gotten a bit better at letting people help me, but if you’re reading this and you know me in real life you’re probably wondering some things now…
And folks can totally say no if they don’t have it to give!! It’s absolutely fine if they do say no! It’s good practice for all of us to create healthy boundaries.
And yet, maybe. Probably, I know some folks who are willing to support me and this organization, and I’m glad I’m trying. It really does feel uncomfortable to be asking. But I’m still glad I’m trying.
So thank you to everyone for reading out this effort that leaves me feeling very vulnerable. And if you’re able to support it in any amount, you can donate here. Just make sure to let me know you did so I can celebrate with you (and keep track of how close I am to my goal). Also, here’s a Facebook event for following the event and sharing!
The little things in life
I’ve been in my “new” job for about a year now. There are times that get busier, but I’ve found I’m able to have a good balance between work and the rest of my life. In general, this means I get to enjoy my weekends. (With that, next Saturday I’ll be working, so give and take. But I’ll also be able to do comp. time with it.)
On this Sunday I’ve been puttering, rambling, and napping.
(And for some reason eating too much. I don’t know why. I’m going to go back to writing about the good stuff though.)
On the puttering and rambling side of things, I’ve been scoping out my back yard. We’ve gotten a lot of rain the past couple of days, and I was curious who I might meet back there.
I saw a ladybug, that is probably the adult counterpart of the larvae I saw a couple of weeks ago.
I also recently saw one of these in the backyard. I think they are cool looking, so here’s another one. They are a type of predatory stinkbug. Like ladybugs, they eat the critters that you typically don’t want in your yard/garden.
I have a huge spiderwort growing right by my fire pit. It’s about 3 feet tall!! A friend shared that the flowers and the greens are edible, so I want to try them soon.
There are a lot of bees in my backyard. I’m glad I leave it a bit wild back there so they have a place to get pollen.
I saw this little, green fly (Condylostylus patibulatus) who sat still long enough for me to snap a picture, fuzzy though it may be.
This plant is called Browne’s blechum. Little purple flowers should come out of that structure, so that will be neat to look for.
While looking at these mushrooms growing at the bottom of a pallet I’ve had stored in my backyard, I got some inspiration. I built my back fence out of pallets, and I miscounted so I have four left. While rambling the backyard, I realized it gets pretty sunny in this area pretty early in the day this time of year. So maybe I could convert those pallets into plant-holder, growing areas. I could pop some of the boards off the front of the pallet and create shelves instead. Then I could grow, well, whatever. But maybe some vegetables! For now, I don’t really want to go full-on gardening in the front yard, so this space could be perfect for plants that need more sun. I’m excited. I’m also excited to be doing something with those pallets. They’ve been sitting for a minute (as the mushrooms show). It’ll probably be a couple of weeks before I make my vision reality, so more to come soon.
Closing out
Wishing you comfort zone expanding experiences, love, joy, and peace in nature.
