Many of us want to help a friend out when we can. We buy them that drink they need desperately on a Friday night, help them move into their new apartment, or loan them $20 for gas. I think it's also safe to say that a good portion of us have donated to one good cause or another because a friend was fundraising for a charity walk.
I don't know about you guys, but I find it difficult to ask people for help, for money, or even for time when it comes to my personal stuff (charity walks aside...). I'm always glad to help others, but I've grown to feel awkward about asking for it myself, even when I know, and would quickly preach to others, that we need to lean on each other to make it in this world.
Why is it so hard?
For me? I think sometimes I am ashamed to admit that I've somehow failed myself or failed in my current life situation. I'm ashamed to have to come clean with the fact that I'm not handling whatever it is the way that I should be. Sometimes I think that if I am in a particularly hairy situation, there's got to be a way to get out of it myself, otherwise I wouldn't be in it. But I'm starting to come to terms with the fact that... maybe this is exactly why things can be so difficult for us humans... we're too afraid to come together and allow ourselves to be helped. I think some of us witness the leaches of society, sucking the life out of those who give, and don't want to be perceived like that.
What has resulted by living our lives like this, when it comes to attempting to pull off this completely financially self-sufficient facade, is that many of us have become slaves to a variety of Corporate Debt-Monsters. Since we don't want to admit how not-self-sufficient we are to our coworkers, our acquaintances, our friends or our families, we just go out to the lunches and the after work drinks, spending "the Man's" money because it helps us forget for a moment how in debt we are and it shows everyone else, "Hey, we're okay, look, we're here aren't we?" All the while, slipping further and further away from true self-sustainability.
It's too bad, really. I think that if we came together and supported each other, while allowing ourselves to be buoyed at times too, life just might be a bit less difficult.
Anyway, I've delved into this because as I was creating this whole idea of Operation: Wanderlust, I was considering putting a donation option on the page so that friends and family (or strangers!) could support us in our efforts to get rid of debt, follow our dreams, and help put us on the road eventually. As I created the website, I came up with some language and set up the whole shell up for a donation page. At the eleventh hour, I pulled it, because I became ashamed... by what people might think, about what people might say. I didn't want people to look past everything else and say "Look at these fools, trying to live all fancy-free and without responsibilities and looking for their loved ones to pick up the tab!" That's not what we're doing at all, and I know that, and many other people I've talked to know that, but as usual, I worried about those others.
Now that the website has launched, I have had more than one person ask me "Where's the Donation Page?" and I'm faced with this whole situation again, and this time, I want to approach it differently. I thought by coming clean about my reservations in this blog post, my fears of people not knowing our intent would be assuaged.
What would we do with the money you donate?
Right now, we would put it in our piggy to be put aside for the down payment on our rig. Once we get the rig, it would be put toward the payments. Once we pay off the rig, it would go toward the renovations. Once we finish the renovations, it would be put aside for gas and other traveling expenses.
SO here, my honesty, my reservations, my plans, and ... a little bit of my heart.
Much love,
-Amy
"When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed.” - Maya Angelou
If you'd like to make a donation to Operation: Wanderlust, please click here to be directed to our Donation Page.
I don't know about you guys, but I find it difficult to ask people for help, for money, or even for time when it comes to my personal stuff (charity walks aside...). I'm always glad to help others, but I've grown to feel awkward about asking for it myself, even when I know, and would quickly preach to others, that we need to lean on each other to make it in this world.
Why is it so hard?
For me? I think sometimes I am ashamed to admit that I've somehow failed myself or failed in my current life situation. I'm ashamed to have to come clean with the fact that I'm not handling whatever it is the way that I should be. Sometimes I think that if I am in a particularly hairy situation, there's got to be a way to get out of it myself, otherwise I wouldn't be in it. But I'm starting to come to terms with the fact that... maybe this is exactly why things can be so difficult for us humans... we're too afraid to come together and allow ourselves to be helped. I think some of us witness the leaches of society, sucking the life out of those who give, and don't want to be perceived like that.
What has resulted by living our lives like this, when it comes to attempting to pull off this completely financially self-sufficient facade, is that many of us have become slaves to a variety of Corporate Debt-Monsters. Since we don't want to admit how not-self-sufficient we are to our coworkers, our acquaintances, our friends or our families, we just go out to the lunches and the after work drinks, spending "the Man's" money because it helps us forget for a moment how in debt we are and it shows everyone else, "Hey, we're okay, look, we're here aren't we?" All the while, slipping further and further away from true self-sustainability.
It's too bad, really. I think that if we came together and supported each other, while allowing ourselves to be buoyed at times too, life just might be a bit less difficult.
Anyway, I've delved into this because as I was creating this whole idea of Operation: Wanderlust, I was considering putting a donation option on the page so that friends and family (or strangers!) could support us in our efforts to get rid of debt, follow our dreams, and help put us on the road eventually. As I created the website, I came up with some language and set up the whole shell up for a donation page. At the eleventh hour, I pulled it, because I became ashamed... by what people might think, about what people might say. I didn't want people to look past everything else and say "Look at these fools, trying to live all fancy-free and without responsibilities and looking for their loved ones to pick up the tab!" That's not what we're doing at all, and I know that, and many other people I've talked to know that, but as usual, I worried about those others.
Now that the website has launched, I have had more than one person ask me "Where's the Donation Page?" and I'm faced with this whole situation again, and this time, I want to approach it differently. I thought by coming clean about my reservations in this blog post, my fears of people not knowing our intent would be assuaged.
What would we do with the money you donate?
Right now, we would put it in our piggy to be put aside for the down payment on our rig. Once we get the rig, it would be put toward the payments. Once we pay off the rig, it would go toward the renovations. Once we finish the renovations, it would be put aside for gas and other traveling expenses.
SO here, my honesty, my reservations, my plans, and ... a little bit of my heart.
Much love,
-Amy
"When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed.” - Maya Angelou
If you'd like to make a donation to Operation: Wanderlust, please click here to be directed to our Donation Page.