Everyday this week, I arrived at City Yoga to find a bowl with many pennies. At my last count, we had $13.71 cents. This big, clear plastic coin bag has barely filled the whole bottom. This is going to take a while. Perhaps that is why the bank teller was smug, she probably knew how long it would take to fill the 3 bags she gave me, and to think that I was wanting more.
There is a running joke now at the front desk, that if you can't find me, but you know I'm in the building, I'm probably counting pennies. I am in the groove of counting right before or after my classes. As my students arrive they are greeted with a smile and me mouthing my counting, when they leave they get a smile and a special blink of my eye to acknowledge their thanking me for the class, still mouthing the count of the pennies. If one of them looks unsure, Brookelin, our manager, speaks for me and says, "she's counting pennies."
Since explaining this project to my almost 6 year old son, he has been kind and generous in giving me any pennies he finds around the house or in the street. He has since given my .05! It was a fun lesson to sit and explain to him the value of all the coins. He knew some of it, but now you can see that he understands better and is happily giving me the pennies, where as before he was SO exicted that he found MONEY!!!
My 3 year old daughter however, will not let go of her clenched fist of one cent.
People at City Yoga are starting to ask where this money is going. One person suggested that we use it for improvements at City Yoga...I was stunned. I don't even know what improvements those could be, in my mind our studio is perfect. I mean, we need a paint job in MY studio and perhaps we could polish the wood floors to make them sparkle again. It just never occurred to me to use this for us. Someone else mentioned how we don't always have to give it away to feel good, that sometimes we should look in our own backyard first. I love how the yogis are throwing the yoga right back at me.
The truth is I am very undecided about where to place the pennies. I am open to suggestions on this and look forward to hearing about charities I don't know about, and any other ideas from you, the people.
I'm off to Malibu with 4 of my closest friends for 24 hours. Not likely that I will find a cent on the beach, but perhaps I will receive more inspiration.
1 comment:
Rebecca,
wow I am inspired by your project or the beginnings there of something great?! I've enjoyed your writing as well. You seem to have a natural way in which you write. Honest and entertaining. Your spirit comes through in your words.
I have an idea for your pennies. I don't know if your kids will or are going to public school, but regardless I think this a great place for your pennies. It is a way to support the community as well the planet and the education and health of "our" children.
The idea is to support the creation of "learning gardens" in public schools. These gardens which are fruit and veggie baring as well as grow flowers, teach and bring excitement about health and nutrition for kids. They get excited about picking and eating their own fresh grown broccoli, kale, beans etc. The gardens also build a fundamental, hands-on awareness of sustainability and understanding of nature's cycles. Making recycling a tangible concept instead of some abstract word or idea they keep hearing about. It's not only a way to prepare kids to help in creating a zero waste future, but the gardens are also beautiful, they sustain a mini ecosystem, and just being in the garden has a calming effect for the children (as well probably the teachers, adults, neighbors, dogs, etc)
There's my two cents. I wasn't directly involved in any such gardens when I was living there, but I have really admired that "movement" and love teaching my kids about growing plants and veggies and trees and nature and all the good ol' hippie rootsy stuff. Keep on with your badass penny saving self...
"A small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."
-Margaret Mead
here's a LAUSD garden link http://www.laschoolgardens.com/index.htm
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