Sharing the Wealth

Don't let the title of this post confuse you - I'm absolutely, unequivocally not a socialist.  I'm a free market  capitalist all the way.  Nothing wrong with individuals helping each other out, though.  In fact, it's what we ought to do.  There are a lot of discussions about where our country is headed right now, but if we "do unto others as we would have them do unto us"  we would be a lot better off.  We can help each other out just fine in our own neighborhoods - we just have to have the "want to."  Recently I posted that someone sent some clothes my way.  Well, some of them worked for me and others didn't.  I thought about ladies at my church - would any of them be able to use them?  So, I took them with me yesterday for services.  Guess what?  I didn't bring any of them back home.  So it worked out great!  One of the ladies even suggested we do a clothing swap - we bring some of our things that don't fit or that we're tired of and have a trading day.  Talk about a grand idea!  We can find solutions to many of our problems if we start trying.  We don't always have to have something new.  Get rid of that way of thinking.  We don't always have to buy it from the store, either.  Think barter and trade.  I'll be willing to bet you've got something in the way of goods or services that someone else would like to have.  Let people know what you are looking for and what you've got for trade.  Imagine the possibilities.  You've got a friend that sews and you need shorts.  Your friend loves your homemade jams and jellies.  Work out a deal.   Another example - you want family photos made but it is going to be fairly costly.  You happen to have a business of your own of some kind - see if that photographer would be interested in what you have and make a deal.  No money ever has to leave your pocket!  The point is to share what you have when you are able, think outside the box for obtaining the goods and services you need and have fun with it. You might find yourself meeting new people and making new friends - and you can't put a price on that!