The Panda on Etsy
[Buddha Statue on Etsy]
Speaking of being a slacker, after years of wanting to have an Etsy site up and freaking out if I could actually do it or not, I finally did. And the result is pretty anti-climatic. I spent all day fiddling with my pictures and trying to figure out which ones people might be interested in owning. I only came up with seven. Seven measly pictures! But they’re up. And I did it.
I’m not sure if I feel a sense of accomplishment or productivity or what. It feels a little shallow. I’m not sure why. Maybe because I have no idea if this will even make any money. And an unsteady business venture is pretty scary, I guess. This is just beer money charity. I don’t even like beer and I gave up my girly drinks lifestyle… the wine bitches were starting to feel oppressive. I don’t expect to make much money because I’m doing this to try to help raise money for charity.
Donate
There’s this really annoying widget on the right side of my blog that looks like an ad. It’s actually a call to donate for some charities I’m trying to fundraise for. See, I’m participating in a travel contest to try to win an amazing year-long round the world trip; meeting world leaders and entrepreneurs to try to make a positive difference in this world. The top 6 fundraisers win a trip to UK for semifinals to compete with 23 other hopefuls while participating in a week-long entrepreneurship/networking conference; two of which win the coveted grand prize. Think The Apprentice meets Amazing Race. I’m already in the top 6. If I can keep it up until October 10th, I’m going to UK! Even just getting there would be an amazing opportunity in itself! And it’s still +1 country I haven’t seen yet.
The Charities
I have chosen to fundraise for Oxfam, Children for Peace, and International Peace Parks Expedition. They help build friendship and reconciliation between Israel and Palestine (Children of Peace), eradicate poverty (Oxfam) and run experiential peacebuilding expeditions for youth impacted by conflict (International Peace Park Expeditions). Your donation, with a minimum amount of $5, could help these great causes as well as help me get to UK and keep my adventures going. Like Joel Runyon, I try to live a life worth writing about and if you like this blog, if you like me, if you like what I stand for, AND/OR if you like what these charities stand for, then consider donating. If you’re not into donating money on an online widget, and want to get a pretty picture instead, then buy some of my photograph prints! Either way, you are donating to charity (and to me, remember, I’m still funemployed).
Ethics
Now that I got that shameless plug out of the way, let me just tell you that I feel a bit sleazy. Even if it’s for charity and a “good cause”. Marketing, promoting, of any kind is hard for me. And I’m not sure if I’m good at it. And I’m not sure that I morally feel OK about it, either.
I’m not the most popular blogger with a big following or anything. I realize this post will probably result in not much. But I’m putting it out there. This trip would mean a lot to me…
But that’s just it. How fucking selfish is it to raise money for ME to win a trip? How genuine are my intentions? How genuine are anyone’s intentions who are trying to win? It’s like when people try to help others for the benefit of their own egos. To “make something of themselves”. To look good on their social media profiles (since resumes are dead). To gain merits via religion so that they can go to heaven or pureland or whatever they believe in. How genuine is it all, really? Is it OK to help others when the intentions are selfish?
I have a yearning to make a positive difference in this world. That’s a big reason why I decided to go vegetarian. By making positive choices in my day-to-day life, I am already helping “change the world” one small step at a time. I’d just like to do it on a bigger scale. Going to the UK, or dare I say, winning the round the world trip would be my gateway to this larger scale. I don’t care about material wealth. I don’t want to be successful, in the Western sense. I just want to make a difference. I’m still trying to figure out how.
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16 Responses to “The Panda on Etsy”
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I don’t think you need to apologize for trying to earn money, for yourself or any charity. We all do what we can to take care of ourselves, and no one’s forcing anyone to donate.
yes, true. I’m not forcing anyone at all! i just find it hard to promote myself.. it feels like ego and i don’t like ego.
that being said.. I am actually thinking MORE about the charities than I am about “taking care of myself”, at this point. It’s not about making money so I can survive so much as it is raising some money for charity! My intentions are less selfish in that sense..
I chipped in a bit
It would be cool to see you blog about going to the UK… and unbelievably cool for you to blog about a trip around the world!
Good for you for doing this. I recently donated money to relief for the flood in Pakistan. I was reading an article about how much they needed money they weren’t getting, and I thought to myself, “I just spent $90 on a remote control that uses motion sensing and looks like a wand from frikkin’ Harry Potter*–how can I not spare any money to help these people?!” Of course there are too many charities and causes for me to contribute to all of them, and I’m not exactly rich, but a few here and there is good.
*Totally unnecessary impulse buy, but still very cool.
Wouldn’t it be cool!?! There are 2 other ways to win a spot for the UK trip/semifinals but I’ve only chosen to concentrate on fundraising because I feel that’s the most genuine and meaningful way to participate!! I actually wasn’t even going to participate at ALL until I saw that the current 6th place had only raised $40 so far.. and 1st is at $450. I thought placing in the top 6 was TOTALLY achievable after that and it reminded me not to get so intimidated with life!! So, I donated $50 to kickstart my funds
I could have donated $300 that I basically got for free in Taiwan but it’s hard to part with that much, especially since I’m running on NO income right now and I need to think about funding myself/travels soon.. (yikes).
I’ve never heard of that remote! It shows just how much we’re willing to spend on extra. I’m living a pretty frugal/minimalistic life these days, but I’m TOTALLY happy and loving life! My poverty is a choice, and I am still sustainable.. I can still survive. But I definitely need to make money soon or I’ll run out!
Thanks so much for donating!! I handpicked these charities out of 24 choices and researched to find my favorites; they’re pretty cool!
I’m with Kristan, but I can definitely relate–it’s tough to ask people for money, even if it’s for such a good cause. I wish you all the best in this contest, hoping you get to travel the world! Your photos are great, can’t decide if I like the Oregon Coast or Taj Mahal one better…
Ah! You could always get them both.. haha. I thought my Taj pic was pretty ace myself.. And I’ll be adding more pictures! Including more from the coast.. Sunsets and silhouettes.. Have a friend whose even willing to put up her photos on my shop for 100% donation!! As long as I’m willing to shoulder the prints (and I am).
I hope I can travel the world also! Whether I win the contest or not..
It will happen. If you know anyone who would be interested in hosting a blog giveaway for my etsy prints to help get some buzz going, let me know.. I’ll send a free print of their choice to the winner! Just need to find a host..
I have a lot of respect for what you are doing…you certainly don’t come across as selfish in my book. Anyone who is willing to donate their time and effort in a cause bigger than themselves is doing something special. I will have to check out the charities you mention. I’m always concerned for security sake so I hope you have a special lock on your site : )
thanks so much! it means a lot
I just have a hard time promoting *anything* and what that means morally, for whatever reason. It’s definitely something I need to get over…
I do a lot to donate my time! Not just this charity drive.. But I’ve been volunteering at the temple and doing stuff for free that most people would spend hundreds or thousands on.. web/graphic design. It’s the stuff that we’d do for free that should become our “work” because then we feel passionate about it and it doesn’t have to feel like work! Of course, there are those artists who prefer keeping them as hobbies and not letting them get entangled with $ for fear that it can become WORK and they thus lose their passion but I’m more for the first camp.. THIS is what I’m passionate about and want to build my life around! Why not?
Good that you research the charities for yourself. I am definitely in favor of doing that so you know who you’re donating to. I actually researched these myself and came up with these three as my favorite charities (in a group of 24 choices). And of course, there’s also me.. Hope you can say your “research” on me and what I’m about is alright.
What do you mean about security and locks on my site? I’m not sure I have that but now you have me concerned as well…
Congrats Janet,
I luv your mission, and getting your own Etsy store while still supporting a worthy cause is incredible !
(BTW – I found your blog via Raam Dev’s tweet !)
You have such a cool blog here, you should definitely think about turning it into an inspirational one woman biz !
Sooo much opportunity !
Keep rocking it, girl !
Mars
3rd times the charm…right? Hopefully this comment gets through
Anyways, I just donated, not much, but I hope it helps. I really hope you win. I’m headed to the UK this week – we could have met up! haha.
Congrats on getting the store set up. Don’t apologize for asking for help. We all need it at some point.
I had more to write, but I’ve forgotten it since your comments hate me
haha, anyways. Good luck!
you were in my spam folder!!!
Hopefully that’s fixed now.
Thanks for your perseverance! haha
and DEFINITELY check out the UK for me.
I plan on going there soon!
(arrogant confidence haha… or law of attraction
)
haha, i’ll get a list of the hot spots…
ps. forgot to say thanks for the shoutout…thanks
obviously i can’t figure out how to i guess ‘approve’ your 3rd comment.. but i replied to it
i’ll figure it out.. i have some slow wi-fi that i’m getting from my neighbors…. ;P
Hey Janet,
I am definitely interested in donating to the cause…I”m a bit confused about the widget for donating. Do you have a link/website I could access? You can send it to my email address writegirl.wg@gmail.com. Sorry, I’m confused about this for some reason. Take care. I’ll look out for your reply : )
Nice photos, Panda! The Buddha one is probably the best
If it looks like you’re falling out of the rankings, I’ll donate something… I don’t want to be deprived of my opportunity!
would you be in UK mid Nov and are you near Liverpool? I’m currently in 4th place! Hopefully the competition doesn’t step it up too much! I want to stay in the top 6!