The Things that Matter

This year, I'm getting a loom for Christmas. So is my husband, Stephen, although neither of us can weave.

We decided, with the way the economy is globally--which would be "horrible"--that we would hold off from buying a bunch of stuff at Christmas that we really don't need, and send the money to our "sisters" in Bolivia to purchase a loom with. Kullakas already has one loom, but really could use a second one, because their woven goods have been so popular and have sold well in the past. We're hoping that the purchase of another loom will help them get through these rough times by allowing them to make more of the products that sell particularly well, like their 100% alpaca shawls and scarves. 

We remain very grateful that, as of this writing at least, both Stephen and I have jobs that pay decently, and have relatively few expenses. We live simply enough; in fact, part of the reason I fell in love with and married Stephen is because he's an extremely "low maintenance" kind of guy in many ways. He simply doesn't need a lot of material things, and frankly neither do I. Now we're finding that a lot of the ways in which we've chosen to live over the past years are coming into vogue, as more and more people are asking themselves what's really matters in life, and how much do we really need to have.

Many of us are lucky to have a roof over our heads and three good meals a day, yet we see all around us many, many people losing their homes and their livelihoods. These are difficult times, and probably will be for awhile. I invite you this holiday season to remember those who are in greater need than yourself, and to ask yourself how you could perhaps make Christmas really special for them this year. Also, feel free to share with us what you're doing to have a "simpler" Christmas more focused on the needs of those who are not weathering this economic downturn very well. In doing something wonderful for someone else, I'm sure you'll find you're giving yourself a very special holiday also!