Inspiring Humanity to Act from Oneness, from Euphrates Institute
Here is an edited holiday message from the founder and CEO of Euphrates, Janessa Gans Wilder. (Posted with permission.) For the complete inspiring message, go here.
The other day I came home to see my 5-year-old daughter sitting on the couch watching a video on the babysitter’s cell phone. Instead of telling her to turn it off, like I usually would, I sat next to her and watched it with her. It was a YouTube video tutorial of a woman displaying two dolls on a table, contrasting the “real LOL dolls” with the “fake LOL dolls.” On and on she went, picking out differences here and there, doing her best to educate my daughter about being a “discerning consumer.” I sighed to myself, “I don’t want my daughter to be a discerning consumer; I want her to be a discerning citizen.”
I don’t want my daughter to be a discerning consumer; I want her to be a discerning citizen.
After the video ended, my daughter and I had a little chat. I shared my view that the only purpose of those videos was to influence her to pay extra for the sponsoring company’s product. We discussed how many more important things there are to learn than the difference between doll brands. I had anticipated a severe reaction to this diatribe, given that my daughter’s favorite thing in the world seems to be LOL dolls. (A five-year-old’s passions burn white hot!) To my great surprise, when I told her she wasn’t allowed to watch those videos anymore, she nodded in agreement and said, “I didn’t agree with her. I liked the fake doll better anyway.”
As I contemplate our Christmas tree piled high with presents and the latest toys, I wonder, “Who am I to talk?” A recent blog entitled “Is It Time to Rethink How We Give Gifts?” cites that 53.1% of people report to receiving unwanted gifts during Christmas totaling $16 billion. Add to that the environmental toll: up to 18% of gifts are never used and 4% are immediately thrown into the trash.
Imagine if… gift-giving became, instead, an impetus for educating ourselves to be better citizens.
Imagine if this effort, expense, and energy were poured into celebrating the “reason for the season,” and gift-giving became, instead, an impetus for educating ourselves to be better citizens. That same YouTube lady could be teaching kids about minimizing waste, helping the homeless, engaging other countries and cultures, fact-checking our politicians, or learning civics. We could traffic in ideas instead of merchandise.
Some dear friends, Travis and Hollister Thomas, parents to three children, are always inspiring others with their innovative approach to serving together as a family. This Christmas they are collecting donations and delivering them directly to homeless folks in Palm Beach, Florida for the second year in a row. And they have renamed “Black Friday,” “RAK Friday.” For the past six years they have been committed to doing “RAK” (Random Acts of Kindness) as a family and, more importantly, to inspiring others around the country to follow suit.
This Christmas Eve, our family shared what we thought was our most important gift — our family’s sponsorship of a sweet little girl in Kenya whom is to be the first in her family to attend school. (My friend Lark Rodman, who has lived in Kenya for years, knows each of these kids and families personally, and each cent donated–only $12/month or $144/year!–goes straight to their education.)
Change seems to come slowly, but I feel it would be easier to alter my lifestyle if done in a community of friends, neighbors, and associates where we are ALL striving to learn from each other and motivating ourselves to be better citizens, not better consumers. And we could share tools and inspirations on how I – and ALL like-minded people – can effect change. Now that’s a YouTube video I would love my daughter to watch!
May your holidays be blessed and peaceful.
—Janessa Gans Wilder, CEO, Euphrates Institute
