The internet is FULL of inspiring quotes about charity.
You know the kind I’m talking about.
Ones that say the happiest people are the ones that give the most.
That it is through giving that we open ourselves to receiving.
These quotes are beautiful and profound and almost certainly true, but in condensing the words of great writers and spiritual leaders to "instagrammable" quotes, sometimes, the original intention is then lost.
The emphasis shifts.
We start thinking "I will contribute to charity so that I can be happy", or, "I will offer my love and care and attention so that others will do the same for me".
When we do this, we start to think about giving as an exchange, about what it can offer us, rather than how we can just simply serve someone else.
Just FYI: I do this All. The. Time.
Do you know how many canvas bags I own, just because I wanted to look like a good person when the cashier asked me to buy a $2 charity bag?
Just last night, I told my wife I’d cook dinner with the hope that she would then offer to do the after-dinner clean up (we have a 9-month-old who loooves throwing spaghetti on the floor ).
So much of our life is about transactions and negotiations, give and take.
But to truly give, to offer your time or your money or your possessions or your craft without hope, without expectation, or anything in return?
That’s something entirely different
And with that reflection, dear Jenny, let me get to the main point of today’s newsletter… (what I promised Annika I would be talking about today!)
I'd like to say a massive THANK YOU to the wonderful humans who have been filling our three studios with donations for Share The Dignity. (Not that you expected a thank you – you're a better yogi than me! – but you are kind and generous and very, very much appreciated )
IF you are able to support this charity, there are still a bunch of ways you can. (But first, take a moment to consider this – if we want to give generously, we should also be mindful about what we are doing and if it aligns at this moment in time. Saying YES is beautiful, but so is knowing when to say not right now).
We're still collecting the SEVEN ESSENTIALS:
Shampoo
Conditioner
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Soap
Menstruation products
Roll on deodorant
Each item needs to be unused and in its original, unopened packaging.
We're also collecting pre-loved handbags that we will fill with the donated essentials on our packing day.
You can bring your donations to any of the three Nin Yoga studios (and hopefully stay for a class and cup of tea after! Our timetable is on our website ).
You can also have the items delivered directly to our Nin Yoga St Marys Studio (Shop 2, 343 Great Western Highway, St Marys, NSW, 2760).
You can check out our fundraiser page, if you have any cash to spare.
And, if you're wanting to support this cause but you're not in the financial position to do so, you can offer your time by sharing our fundraiser on social media (and pretty please tag us )
Share the Dignity is a charity that collects and donates period products to people who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness, domestic violence or poverty.
On the 23rd of November, Nin Yoga will host a Share The Dignity packing party at our Penrith studio where we will fill tote bags or handbags donated by you with the essentials, before dropping them off to a collection point at Minchinbury Bunnings.
Since is is somehow already November (???) we have only 17 days left to collect as many of the essential seven products as possible.
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