The Merchant of Venus

A drama about a pound of flesh

by Joie de Vivre

I ate whatever I wanted on Thanksgiving day... and the day after.... and the day after.

That's how long it took to go through all the leftovers :)

I also gained weight.

I may be making a great assumption here, but I am going to guess I am not the only person in America to have done so.  I am also going to go out on quite the long limb by saying that I imagine there is a slew of holiday revelers who are kicking themselves, if not starving themselves, in the festivities' aftermath.

They have vowed to stop eating for the rest of the year.  Gotta fit into that little black NYE dress. After all, they fought long and hard for it on Black Friday, having to camp out all night at the mall and dodge the random stream of pepper spray.

But ya know what.... it's just weight.  Our physical pounds may come and go.. or come and keep on coming at times.  But the goodwill and delightful memories we keep from our holiday revelings stay with us long after the calories have been burned off. Plus, if you washed enough Thanksgiving dinner dishes you may have burned them off already!

Is it really worth letting a few excess pounds of flesh take away our joy this season?  Or can we resolve to enjoy ourselves and one another during this sweet time of year. There will be plenty of opportunities to drop those pounds, and to look at every circumstance during the holiday frenzy as a chance to live the axiom of 'peace on earth, good will toward men". 

Next time you can't find a parking spot close to the shop door, smile -- you get to expend a few more calories.  Is there a person in a rush behind you in the checkout line?  Why not make their day and let them go ahead of you?  What a lovely holiday gift to offer a stranger, your time, your attention and your respect.

You will never appear lovelier than when you share love and kindness.  Your smile and thoughtfulness will get those 'likes' and kind comments on the holiday Facebook photos you post far faster than if you focused on acquiring a rocket body and neglected those who love you.

You can lose the weight -- promise.

So go celebrate life with those you love.  It will put roses in your cheeks and a spring in your step.. and you will look beautiful. 

Home is in their their hearts

November is National Homeless Children's Awareness month -- and an opportunity to share some  holiday cheer with a segment of the population who often go unnoticed during these seemingly unstable times.

60 Minutes reports "One of the consequences of the recession that you don't hear a lot about is the record number of children descending into poverty......  it is estimated the poverty rate for kids in this country will soon hit 25 percent. Those children would be the largest American generation to be raised in hard times since the Great Depression...  In Seminole County, near Orlando, FL, so many kids have lost their homes that school busses now stop at dozens of cheap motels where families crowd into rooms, living week to week."

Despite the dire statistics, there is reason to take heart. According to Elle Hart-Shegos (in a report prepared for the Family Housing Fund):

While research on homeless children paints an overwhelmingly bleak picture of their current and future status, there is hope that with early and consistent intervention strategies, children can learn to overcome many of the detrimental effects of their poverty and homeless experiences. A local study of homeless children conducted by the University of Minnesota’s Center for Urban and Regional Affairs (CURA) noted that some homeless children were succeeding academically despite highly challenging situations. In their efforts to collect information directly from homeless parents, CURA found that parents typically are “quite concerned about their children and value education as the most important need of their children beyond the survival basics of shelter, food, and clothing.” 

When CURA analyzed what practices contributed to the success of these children, they noted:
• parental closeness with their children and involvement in children’s education;
• high-quality relationships with teachers in special intervention support programs;
• one-to-one relationships between tutors and children; and
• relationships with competent and caring adults.

It is clear that the problem of child homelessness is not a quick fix.  But there are ways that we as individuals can do something to feel part of the solution.  Please visit Shared Treasure Hunt if you would like to participate in a one-to-one child-to-child activity that offers young people the opportunity to help children less financially fortunate to have a happy holiday.  The treasures and toys shared may wear out over time, but the blessings and lessons shared will last a lifetime.

Pint-sized Pirates Commandeer the Holidays

Kids share treasures with homeless counterparts in philanthropic adventure

by Joie de Vivre

The costumes have been put away, pumpkins smashed, and sugar rushes survived, but kids across the country are being called on to indulge their inner Jack Sparrow once again in search of treasure.  

Conceived and created on a spur-of-the-moment whim, Shared Treasure Hunt is a not-remotely-for-profit entity designed to aid homeless children while teaching more fortunate children the value of philanthropy.

Here be a Piece of 8 medallion
for our little scallywags to wear with pride,
as a show of their participation.
SImply print it out (perhaps reinforced
with cardboard backing) and attach
to any chain, ribbon, string etc. Voila!
An instant custom STH pirate necklace

As our first show of piracy, our fledgling do-gooder group is staging a Black Jack Friday event, on November 25, 2011.  Children are invited to participate by collecting 21 items (hence the ‘black jack’ tie-in) to be delivered to a homeless child the day after Thanksgiving.  

The hope is that the recipient will be awed and grateful, the participating scallawag will feel warm and tingly inside while learning a valuable life lesson, and all involved will enjoy the opportunity to do something a little different than just camping out at the mall.

Any child, or anyone who knows a child, is invited to join in the jolly holiday fun.  There is no cost, though the investment in goodwill may be substantial.  

For more information, or just to use the “what’s my pirate name” link, visit Shared Treasure Hunt on Facebook.