It's getting way nicer outside here, and I'm starting to think about my garden. I'm not sure what I want to plant this year, but I think I'll probably skip the tomatoes, as fun as they are to grow. Since I can't eat them anymore, it's kind of torture to grow the most beautiful organic, heirloom-variety tomatoes and then give them all away. I'd like to try something new that I've never grown before - maybe brussels sprouts, or winter squash. I get so excited this time of year, thinking of all the good stuff I can plant, and getting my beds ready. I also put in a lot more perennials last year, so I want to see if they all survived the winter. I was not in the best mental space last fall, so didn't get around to mulching a lot of the new plants. Hopefully, I didn't kill them through my neglect.
Today, I finally got my U.T.E.R.U.S. donation email sent off, pictures and all. It feels great to be part of something so amazing. I totally agree with Mel that sometimes helping one person creates a bigger change in the world than initiatives that are aimed at everyone. It certainly helps me to feel like I am doing something meaningful. The idea that one woman may get her baby because of what our community can do - to me, this is so incredibly beautiful. It just takes my breath away.
I'm interested in this question, though - even in a more general sense. Is it better to help one person directly or to do things that help a larger group? In some ways, I feel like my leaning towards the former conflicts a bit with my political sense - I generally think that universal programs and initiatives are preferable to targeted ones, for a number of reasons. But on a personal level, emotionally, spiritually - the connection I get from that more direct contact - it's really powerful.
What are your thoughts?
11 comments:
I have a really hard time doing the short posts too....if you couldn't tell already.
I'm beginning to think about what I am planting this year as well - I tried a full garden a few years ago, but soon learned I didn't have the discipline to keep up with it. Now I do a xeriscaped plot in the front of the house and several containers of herbs on the deck. I love going out each morning and running my hands over the herbs and smelling their scents on my fingers.
About the question of helping one or many? Hmmm...I have learned that for me personally, the way I am wired is that I seem to have more to offer, or my gifts seem to shine more, when I am able to connect with one person, individually. I believe in the big causes, I believe in helping them - but I get easily overwhelmed with how much there is to do and the logistics of it all and wondering if what I am doing actually creates change. When I am able to connect with and help one person - it makes sense to me on a heart level, and I truly believe that it is helping the larger cause as well. I think it takes people who are good at both to make any real change possible in this world. Ultimately though, I think my personal philosophy is that change occurs through relationship - often through the loving of another person - and I do that best one on one.
First of all, I really like the first song that comes on the iPod. That's the one shame of Google Reader--you miss the cool widgets like that unless you click over to comment.
I love big programs especially when I go and dedicate a day or two to helping hands on and watching people benefit. It's harder with March of Dimes because I just have to trust that the money is used well. It's easier to donate money and time to a soup kitchen and see people eating the food you're preparing. BUT I love seeing us come together to help an individual. I think too often we figuratively walk by someone in need when we can help and this is making everyone pause.
Yay for getting your UTERUS donation together!
I think it's important for people to do both large and small scale good works. Large for obvious reasons, individual for a few. It gives us a personal connection which makes us feel especially good, which in turn reminds us why we would want to donate to the larger organizations. Also, the large organizations may be great in making strides, but it tends to ignore the individual - breast cancer organizations may help fund research which is oh so important, but there is a friend of my boss who we have been fund-raising for because the reality of her individual situation is that she has massive medical bills and regular bills she can't pay because of missing work. So I think they just serve different related and equally important purposes.
Have I said that like five times already? I am too tired to think straight.
You are the best.
I also think both are important: small and large. Large because there is so much more power when a group of people pool their resources and good will. Small because it's important to see your actions really matter. It's the "you touch it, it moves" principal. It does something to your heart when you see your direct action making a difference in someone's life.
I am sad you won't be planting those lusious tomaten! But your gardening plans sound lovely.
You kind of creep me out as our thoughts sometimes seem to mirror each other. My husband and I had the same donating discussion last night. We need to start becoming more involved in something. Big or small but have not gotten our act together. Thanks for throwing this question out there. I'd like to read other's views too!
Winter squash is a blast to grow, and really easy, if you get one of the tougher varieties of butternut or whatnot. We're trying spaghetti squash for the first time this year. The only problem I've ever had with squash was fusarium.
I guess I like to give to "big" causes when a long time horizon is on the table, like preserving woodlands for future generations or supporting Head Start (yes, they always welcome donations). I like to give locally, though.
"Is it better to help one person directly or to do things that help a larger group?"
I think that, in real life, I'm increasingly leaning towards the former, rather than the latter. Although it's still obviously important to work to effect broader social change, it is also incredibly satisfying to know that you have made a concrete difference to somebody else's life.
But I also think that the beauty of our little online community is that we get to do both at once - at the same time as we have conversations such as this one, so too do all these individual posts combine to make something that is somehow much larger than the sum of its parts.
Best of luck with the gardening!
I think the two complement to one another. Giving to a universal charity may mean incremental improvements for the entire group, after overhead is accounted for. Helping one person directly, well, that seems a more tangible result.
I think hand to hand donations are powerful because you have a one-to-one relationship. You see the impact of your work or gift, and that is really nice. But you are right that there is more work that can be done for more people by coalitions. The whole premise of co-operative living is that it is much cheaper to combine resources, and I'm a big believer in co-operative living. But, in turn, you then lose the personal touch when you go that route. Feh, I try to balance between the two.
Quick little updates are difficult because you have to concisely share information, and concise means thoughtfully choosing words. That's why it's harder for me, at least.
My flower garden is about to get underway. I was pleasantly surprised to see that my snapdragons are about to bloom a second time, despite the fact that they are supposed to be annuals. I was really shocked that they survived the winter at all, so I'm going to plant more and see if that was just a fluke or whether they really like it here for some reason. My veg garden is going to have to wait. My seeds have been started, but I need to actually build the bed that they will be planted in, and unfortunately, there can be no lifting, pushing or pulling over 10 lbs for the next two weeks, so that's right out. It'll happen eventually, but for now, I'm focusing on the flowers that someone else has already started for me!
Thanks for the thought-provoking question. I enjoy it!
Someday I will live in a place that has sun, and will grown heirloom tomatos and such. Right now I live under a canopy of gigantic Oak and Poplar trees. They are beautiful, but I miss out on so much gardening. I do have a great Hosta collection though.
It's good to spread the love between individual and wide spread organizations. I like Mel's comment. Ditto that.
Your ramblings are good reads. :)
Delurking here to let you know that I don't think it really matters how you help - as long as you do.
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