The place I used to live in Santa Monica is just up the road from where the fires hit. My friend Will and I would walk just North of Montana Ave right past this beautiful view of the palisades, and now it’s all burned down, and thousands of lives have been paused, starting over, for some, worse. It’s strange to sit in Texas, so far away, and then see images online of places you used to live. You’re helpless, and can only watch.
A few clients of mine live out there, one far enough south to be out of the way and another in Santa Monica who happens to already be out of town. Do you keep on business as usual? With that all so close to where you live?
Another has friends who lost everything, many of them, having grown up in that area. All of the places you know from childhood, and even the sense of the neighborhood itself, is gone. It’s hard to imagine having to go through that and how that can all happen so quickly…
So I’m donating as much as I can directly to families in need, mostly through GoFundMe. Some great organizers are already bringing goods in with trucks, like toiletries and other supplies.
Incredibly, I have even sent some goods directly through Amazon.
1-3 day shipping still works in less affected areas, so it’s been a great way to donate.
One thing this has me considering more in my own life is donations, and how I can make donating more of a part of what I do for work?
I’ve been asking myself for the last 2 years or so “What is work for?” and as I come up with my answers, I am starting to feel like giving money away can be a core part of that answer. Choosing to work more hours, knowing that some of that money is being sent to others feels like a better use of time than simply having it only be for acquiring more myself.
We live in such an abundant world, and when that abundance is taken from us so quickly, it’s bewildering. We can rebuild (though not replace), we can make more, and we can give more.
As Mr. Rogers says “look for the helpers.”
There are so many givers/helpers. You get to be one of them, too.
David, thanks for your leadership and the link. Money like work is just another tool we can use to serve others. Now is always a great time to give!