This Holiday Season, I think we're all thinking a bit differently. Some of us are making an effort to make our world a better place. We're thinking it's important to recognize the need to help not only ourselves, but others as well. It's a time to give gifts to each other, but also a time to acknowledge how fortunate we are and how others in the world are not as lucky. Just watch an episode of The Amazing Race and you'll see the way others have to live and see how the competitors are stunned and even moved to tears by the impoverished conditions to which they are exposed.
Some of us have family fighting in war-torn countries, some of us have personal tragedies in our lives that we're dealing with even at this so-called "happy time". But this is when we should realize just how closely we are all linked; how we as a human race are basically striving for the same things: love, joy and peace.
So let us as human beings strive to make a difference this Holiday Season. Change something that might help the environment, work in a soup kitchen for a couple of hours, turn some of that hard-earned money into a donation for a family who literally has nothing--either close to home, or overseas. Reconnect with loved ones and friends, forgive those who have hurt you. Life's too short not to make a difference. Shine your light!
With that in mind, here's a poem I wrote just today about a provincial incentive in Canada that will make a big impact on our environment.
Peace! Poetikat
Light Switch
In Newfoundland this Christmas year,
Along with bringing festive cheer,
Santa Claus has this advice:
LEDs are twice as nice.
Bring old lights in to stations set,
Just trade them in and you will get,
Double packs of brand new lights
And LEDs are pretty sights.
Not only that; these lights can save
Great metric tonnes of power we crave;
Single bulbs we use for show;
116 LEDs make glow.
The Holidays increase our power
Consumption mega watts by hour—
Enough to light the Mt. Pearl spot,
Or Cornerbrook, and that’s a lot!
So make your way to near depot;
Hand back your lights of long ago;
From far and wide let new be seen—
Even Santa’s wearing green!
Kathleen Mortensen © 2007
