A photo from a walk this week. The reason I give to environmental organizations? To protect places like this. Not so that somebody sells my information so that I then receive oodles of unsolicited appeals from other organizations (which waste paper and other resources and harm actual trees somewhere, because of all the paper!)
Note to self: apparently, I should think twice before donating to charitable organizations, to the nonprofits that support causes that I care about. Because at least one group that I supported was… Sneaky? Annoying? Lacking integrity? and sold my name and address. I wish I knew which one, because I wouldn’t donate to them again.
Now every day when I pick up my mail, my box is full of solicitations from worthwhile organizations. Large and small. Statewide, national, international. Save Mono Lake! Give to the Salvation Army! I’ve received many free 16-month nature calendars (with envelopes attached so that I could repay the organization’s generosity. Because not only did they send me a calendar but personalized address labels and stickers, too!).
Primarily the mail comes from environmental groups, but also from aide groups that work overseas.
I used to open them all.
Now I throw them away without even taking a look.
I have to.
I don’t have the resources to fund even a fraction of them.
And I resent the fact that this deluge of requests means that I have to say no, over and over again, and then feel bad about it.
Just today? I threw away appeals from the Salvation Army. The National Parks Conservation Association (that envelope commanded: “Open upon receipt.” Nope. And I won’t send you anything in the future if that’s the kind of bossy attitude you have). The Cornell Lab of Ornithology (maybe because I support the Audubon Society?). The National Wildlife Federation. The ACLU. The International Rescue Committee. Women for Women International (Free Bookmarks enclosed!) Even a letter from former president Barack Obama. That one had my address in cursive. All these letters bore a similar “nonprofit” postage stamp.
It’s discouraging! Especially the environmental organizations: so much that they send ends up in the garbage (the recycling bin, actually. But still.) Seems counterproductive. And it sure doesn’t help the planet, to print and ship countless letters that end up needing to be recycled. Not to mention all the other resources that are wasted: the fuel to move the mail trucks, the time of our overworked, harried postal employees, who have to deal with all those worthless appeals.
I think it’s growth for me, though: to finally get to the point where I toss the letters, unopened. At least then they don’t waste any more of my (limited) mental energy, and I can mostly avoid falling into a pit of regret. At least then there’s less guilt than if I do open the letters, read the copy about how bad things are and how much they need me, and (after all that) still toss them into the recycling. I will continue to support the groups that mean the most to me. And I can do my best to channel the rest of my time into activities that light me up and give me life. Like taking walks with Biscuit through the forest that I love so much and that I do my best to protect and save.
In fact, I’m going to close this now, such as it is, and take him for a walk, back up to the place where I took the picture that you see above. It’s a bright, warm October day and both of us have been sitting (or sleeping, in his case) a little too much.
Walks are great antidotes for mailbox angst.
Walks are great antidotes for other kinds of angst, too.
6 Comments
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. Just because
And another thing: Does my entire donation go toward sending myself endless demands for more money? My mother died 3 years ago and she still gets twice monthly reminders of how much her local PBS station appreciates her regular donations. I’ve tried to make it stop, even played the “triggering my grief” card. Nope, they just keep coming. Good on you for finding the self compassion to just ditch the stuff.
And ditto to every word that word kitties wrote.
I love that Word Kitties! She’s great. And totally agree with everything you said, too. They don’t even respect the grief card? Wow. Also? I love your opening here…. Does my entire donation go toward asking myself for more money? That’s perfect!
Sally, enjoyed your post! I share Robin’s consternation that they won’t stop the solicitations even after you told them about your situation.
And your question about donations simply paying for more solicitations, that’s certainly an interesting thought!
I hope it’s helpful if I totally agree with everything you wrote! I share all those thoughts and annoyances, and often contemplate the bizarre contrast between wanting to support worthy causes, but needing to put up with a system that stresses itself with all that useless mail, and all the other stressors that go with creating, handling, and distributing said useless mail. This started to bug me (and some friends, too!) during the 2000’s, and every year it gets worse. Why don’t they simply send us an email to remind us or something?
Oh, and here’s another thing. My husband is an old guy with chronic pain, and famous doctors all over the world are apparently deeply concerned about his ability to achieve an erection. Honestly, since we’re past child bearing age, that’s just not a priority for us. But perhaps these fine medical professionals assume that we are Abraham and Sarah, and that we have some sort of spiritual need to pursue this particular dimension of our relationship. So, they spare no trope, no poetic or salacious imperative, no frisky photo, no paper, postage, or environmental concern, in urging him to purchase their endless products. It’s a good thing we have a sense of humor.
This is hilarious. And helpful! Yes, three cheers and gold stars for senses of humor. So good to see you here today.