I have rewritten a toot 5 times trying to explain how my lack of income prevents me from enjoying Xmass fully.
But instead of giving you a sob story about my life, I want to tell you this...
If you have someone in your life who is struggling financially, just take them aside and let them know that you love them, and that you understand. Let them know that their value is in who they are, not how much they can buy.
Ask them what you can do to help them have a merry Xmass.
It'll mean a lot.
For anyone, thatโs wondering about my particular situation first let me say, that I am OK. My basic needs are met. I just have nothing beyond that. If you want to understand my story, I wrote about it a few months back in a very long thread here...
https://mastodon.social/@Mrfunkedude/109348944147094320
Be warned, reading this may change the way that you see me.
If you want to give something to me, please give to someone who needs it in your life instead. You helping someone you love is the best gift you could give me.
@Mrfunkedude
No worries mate, I read your thread, I'm in no place to judge how you do you.
Rock on man. ๐
Your thread is quite a read. Just wanna give you a big hug and say that I'm glad you're here and thankyou for sharing.
@Mrfunkedude I wish you the best Christmas you can possibly have. I'm glad that I found you here on Mastodon and I look forward to seeing what you post in the future.
I read your thread of your story. If you were here, I'd offer to give you a hug. It was really brave of you to tell all of that when it would have been so easy not to, to just hide behind the keyboard.
Wishing you every possible happiness. (And what the hell - some of the impossible ones too!)
@jason_burnett I thank you for your kind words and empathy.
I hope that the season treats you well.
Thanks.
@Mrfunkedude any change is in the positive direction. Single income relationships are deeply misunderstood even in more 'traditional' forms. Disability justice matters and impacts being across the lifespan are really dismissed.
Thank you for sharing as I wasn't active here then and awareness being raised helps so many.
I wanted to thank everyone who boosted, commented, and gave a favorite to this toot.
Your kindness and understanding astounded me.
Mostly, I was amazed at the lack of negativity. If this thread doesn't prove how much better Mastodon is to the dumpster fire, I don't know what could?
One more thing. If you don't have anyone in your life who is struggling financially, please consider donating your old clothes to a local charity. That old coat can be someones new coat.
Thank you again. YOU ROCK!
@rowdylibrarian I'll be fine. Pass that gift certificate on to someone in your life that might be struggling. Let them know that you care about them.
The best gift that you could give me, is to help someone you care about.
@rowdylibrarian I appreciate the kindness.
What I wanted, was for people to take a moment and think about those people in their lives that might be struggling right now. What I wanted, was to spread compassion and understanding.
And if Iโve made you do that, which I think I have, then youโve already given me what I needed.
@Mrfunkedude You sir, FunkEDude, are a terrific addition as a contributor to my timeline.
Please know in dark times, you matter more than you can know! Be well and enjoy any blessings that come your way, or you find thru this season of many contradictions.
I can say from personal experience
needing help....
"What can I do to help?"
is way more effective than
"Let me know what I can do to help?"
Beautifully expressed. Jingle Bells ๐๐
I will not pretend to know your circumstances, but it sounds like I may have been in a similar position, and you are quite correct. Even if it is only one person who makes time for you, listens to you, and loves you for who you are, that can make such an amazing difference.
May you find that person (or even those people) who can provide that little bit of support that can mean so much.
This is me.
@Mrfunkedude
When times are hard and budgets are tight its good to remember that words can carry more value than any Breville Sandwich Maker you could give. Writing how you feel in a card or a letter is a gift to be treasured.
Even giving nothing can be special.
"Nothing is more beautiful than a rose and more lovely than the blackbirds song. Nothing holds the stars in the vastness of the sky, and keeps the moon from wandering from her path, year in and year out. Nothing lasts forever... when all else is gone you will still have nothing left.
So enjoy those moments, when you close your eyes and see nothing, or sit in the silence of the night and hear nothing. Enjoy those moments, and be reminded of me.
And when life is hard, and it seems nothing can help - let it... and remember how special you are, and that there is someone that thinks of you.
..and if anyone asks what you got today, just tell them... "nothing". "
@Mrfunkedude I've been trying and failing at a response to this, but virtual hugs if you want them
The holidays have been extremely over commercialized, but I'm sure your loved ones are overjoyed by your company (virtual or otherwise) and companionship
You're right... someone's value is definitely not in what they can buy
@Mrfunkedude You know what would be a nice gift for me? If people stopped judging others based on their damn job.
There is only one thing that matters:
Are you a nice person or not?
If you are a nice person,i couldn't care less how successful you are. What sort of weird, completely malfunctioning society have we become that this even plays any role?
Man ... seriously, just chill. I hope you have a good time regardless of what has happened and the people who hated on you can go lick a cactus.
@Mrfunkedude Honestly, the best present in my opinion is a good time spent cozy. Money will never be an indicator of value for friends and family!
I wish you the nicest and warmest time with your loved ones ๐
@Mrfunkedude Christmas is pretty much a secular holiday (at least for me). We can give it our own meaning and it's not buying stuff or going into hock.
If someone really wants to spend money, spend it on someone who is struggling - who doesn't have enough to eat, who needs help heating their home, who could use some new clothes.
This will mean more than anything else you do this year.,
Darkodemon
Mr. Funk E. Dude ๐ซ 
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