Gratitude
"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." Chinese proverb
In 2014, when I first started on the Wright Angles Originals journey, I had no idea of where this adventure would lead, or of the amazingly generous people I would meet along the way, or of the fundamental life lessons that this path would reinforce for me!
I had found myself becoming increasingly crushed and depressed by the never-ending flood of bad news stories in our world and by man's inhumanity to man. In an effort to find an antidote to this toxicity, I decided that I needed to take charge of the only things I could control - my own life and my own responses. I chose to try to make a small but positive difference that was within my means. Initially, as one woman acting alone, my simple idea was to make and sell my original handcrafts and to donate the profits to my favourite human rights and social justice projects. Never did I expect that so many people - like you - would be so supportive of my idea!
Learnings along my journey
"At times, our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us." - Albert Schweitzer
- It has been life affirming to meet so many kind hearted, generous, good, decent people in the world who far outnumber those who choose to be niggardly or mean spirited!
- The more we give, the more we are replenished - however antithetical that may seem!
- Kindness is a choice each of us can make. It costs nothing to be kind!
My deepest gratitude for random acts of kindness
"... kindness should not just be an aspiration but a daily practice, a muscle that, if exercised, can grow strong and become a habit or way of life." - Julia Baird, Phosphorescence, 2020
I am in awe of the overwhelming generosity and kindness of all those who have offered support and encouragement to Wright Angles Originals. So many people have donated items for my use. Many more have purchased my creations and so supported my efforts in that way.
Here are some examples of acts of kindness that have inspired, sustained and nurtured me:
- IRENE (a neighbouring stallholder at a community market) overheard me saying that I would be out of action while my 45+ year old sewing machine received a much needed service. Irene offered to give me her recently deceased sister's near new sewing machine. 'How much do you want for it?' I asked. 'Nothing,' she replied, 'I'd just like it to go to a good home and to be put to use!' That beautiful machine purrs along as I put it to work. Every time I turn it on, I send loving thoughts and thanks to Irene and her sister!
- FELICITY, PAM, TONYA, JANINE, NITA, FIONA, LYN, BARBARA, WENDY, LORRAINE, VICKI, TRICIA, LIZ, GILLIAN, PAT, JUDY and JENNI are some of my family and friends who over the years have donated a variety of fabrics, buttons, threads, zippers, clips, beads, elastic, yarns, ribbons, lace, etc, for me to use, reuse, repurpose, recycle, etc. These generous donations have encouraged me to be ever more creative!
- DARRELL (convenor of a community market) who donated many boxes of fabrics and lots of haberdashery items from his deceased wife's stash!
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NOT STRANGERS - JUST FRIENDS I HAD NOT YET MET in my local area during 8 months of COVID-19 lockdown restrictions in 2020 in Melbourne!
- GREGG followed a sign on my letterbox and discovered 'Prue's Pop-Up Shop' where I was selling face masks and handcrafts via a front window of my home. A few days later, an estate agent's A-frame stand mysteriously appeared at my front door. Gregg came by a few hours later to explain. His estate agent friend was throwing these stands out, he told her he knew someone he thought could use one and asked if he could take it for me! He thought an A-frame stand on my nature strip could attract more customers! He then revealed he worked in advertising and suggested ways I could improve my signage to attract passing trade. His free advice proved to be effective - sales at Prue's Pop-up Shop increased!
- A YOUNG NEIGHBOUR (who I did not know) spontaneously knocked on my door and offered to mow my lawns!
- MARY (my granddaughter), at the age of 10, from her pocket money contributed 50% towards the cost of a badge making machine. In 2019, Mary started making badges to sell on Wright Angles Originals market stalls. At some markets, Mary set up a little table and helped children to draw their own designs which she then made - on the spot - into badges for them! In 12 months, Mary sold over 100 badges. After covering her costs, in 2020 Mary chose to donate $50 to the World Wildlife Fund to help to protect giant pandas. In 2021, Mary (dedicated carer of Hazelnut & Macadamia - her 2 cute rescue puppies) plans to donate $50 to Pet Rescue.
- CONVENORS (of many of the local community markets that I attend) work with such dedication to make our markets a fun, safe and well-organised success - both for stallholders and for customers!
- MY CUSTOMERS are special in so many ways! I love customers who purchase my unique creations, place custom orders, make suggestions of other items I could make, give positive feedback, visit my website, 'like' and share my Wright Angles Originals posts on Facebook - indeed they too are helping to make a difference in the world!
Heartfelt thanks to each and every one of you for making my heart sing!
"... the effects of kindness can flow on for decades, so that generative acts inspire others to act the same way, and 'create a virtuous cycle of care, generation after generation'." - findings in research conducted by Brady K Jones and Dan P Adams, published in Journal of Adult Development and quoted by Julia Baird in Phosphorescence, 2020
