By Mike Takeuchi
*Note a slighter shorter, less personal, more sanitized, and less soapbox ranting version of this story was published in a different medium.
During the holidays, it's better to give than receive, especially when we have too much.
Someone I have never met recently donated a very nice bike to a very worthy charity, which prompted two friends (who insisted on remaining anonymous) to follow suit with clothes, running shoes and other items. Inspired, this writer impulsively did the same thing-gathering up six bags of clothes, blankets, books, a bike and a car rack for bikes and dropped them off at local charities.
It does this skeptical optimist's heart good to see our community looking out for others, whether it is on a relatively large scale like the Christmas Unity Telethon, or Santa Barbara Middle School teaming with Hazard's Cyclesport to build bikes to donate to the local Boys and Girls Clubs, or even individuals such as Ovidio Mora, who collects soccer equipment for the youth of his native Costa Rica.
It is like a grass-roots form of Boxing Day.
According to Wikipedia and three other sites, Boxing Day is a tradition from Europe that dates back to the Middle Ages, and perhaps the early Christian era, during which metal boxes were placed outside churches for offerings to celebrate the Feast of St. Stephen (also Dec. 26).
While I wish that this country officially celebrated such a day, Although I am gladdened to see people do this on their own, I wish that this country officially celebrated such a day. Because frankly, we have too much crap.
When looking at the clutter in my home and attic, I asked myself if I really needed the three extra jackets that I haven't worn in two years. The answer of course was no. Then I took it a step further by looking at the rusting, but still functional mountain bike on my back porch and decided that I wasn't going to fix it up and that somebody else could probably use it more than I. I looked at a virtual mini library of books and decided the expose' on Roger Clemens that I read, really wasn't worth keeping, nor was the book on overthrown governments. From the result of this, I took into account that all of these things were still useful... for someone else.
So I packed things up and distributed them to shelters, the library (although I have yet to deliver), and a community bike place. I immediately felt lighter. Because not only was this going to someone who can use it, I unburdened myself.
My only regret is that this revelation occurred during the holidays. I had wished it occurred in the spring because that's when places need things the most. While shelves are stalked during the Yule season, they are positively freaking bare during the rest of the time. So I am hoping that if anyone is reading this, they might consider waiting till the spring or summer to act impulsively...
Also please consider what one drops off. Coats and useful staples such as canned goods are much better, of course, than high-tech bike shorts or energy bars. In one's own home, items that haven't been worn or used in the last year or two probably won't be.
Clothes are great, but think of other items too-like bikes. Bikes are a very useful item, especially if one lacks a car for transportation. While it may be a bit late for this Christmas, perhaps you can consider buying a kids bike to donate next year.
For me, personally, I get much satisfaction in more ways than one each time I do this. The first is to help others. The second is appreciating that I am in a position to do this. And lastly,as I said before, it is a very liberating feeling to get rid of crap we don't need.
I have a rule that for every Barcelona Football Club (my addiction of choice) shirt or item that I buy, I have to give a bag of clothes or an amount similar to charity.
But the last thing may be to my wife Munch's chagrin: I may have to wear a red- and blue-striped Barca jersey under my sport coat at the next wedding we attend.
In all seriousness, I believe that we are a society that likes to own things - which is fine. But in turn, we are often unnecessarily weighed down by what we collect. Although I am not Buddhist, there is a parable generally saying that the more one owns, the more they worry. And combining that with the polytheistic tenet of doing unto others as one would like to be done to them reminds me that not only this time, but any time is good to help others. But a warning, you may get a better feeling of liberation than that of doing general good for your fellow human beings. I should know, because I confess that it happened to me.
