"Hi Andrea -- Just so you know, I made a contribution without buying earrings from you. All the money I sent (at least equal to set of earrings) went to Japanese relief instead of 90% of the money going to you. Nothing personal, Andrea, but I found your offer to be a bit on the exploitive side. That may be why only 2 out 700 people responded to your offer. Maybe the other 698 people felt the same way I did. I hope you and the kids are doing well. Stay in touch."
Your friend, Elliot
For those of you who are not on my mailing list, that read my blog from the far reaches of the globe, I will post, after this the letters I sent out, and judge for yourself, I could be so wrong..but for those that have been reading my blog, and my feelings on so many subjects which I share quiet openly, no holds bar, one would think they get a feeling of truth, and honesty about me.. if not, I am disappointed. In myself for not conveying my deepest heart felt thoughts in a way that are received as so.
It actually pains me to think that one could actually think, that I would exploit a natural disaster, for my own selfish needs, like food, an roof over my head, for the sake of my children, cause I by myself could quiet easily move into my motorhome and live there, at campgrounds or parking lots, for all I care. But that is not an option. and my crew are my first and foremost priority.
I see no donations or good will from others throwing moneys my way while I struggle to figure out how on earth I am going to get by, while the lavish, have expensive things I wouldn't dream of purchasing, at this time, or maybe ever.. not because I won't be extremely wealthy in the near future, but I might find it a waste of funds, one never knows when the "fat Cow" will slim down, like now..at the moment my T.V in my bed room died, my phone is not working well, my camera, which is an extension to my arm broke, and I am shopping at the 99 cent store for groceries. For those outside Los Angeles this is hardly a grocery store.. I've had to give up beef as it is too expensive to buy, looked at a pot roast at Smart and Final it was $20. oh just forget that!! what was once a treat is now extravagant, can one imagine pot roast extravagant.. who could have ever figured..
By no means am I complaining, just stating the facts as I see them, under duress, of circumstances I am working to change daily when I'm not over whelmed with emotion, concerning other issues in my life, for which I keep private.
It was brought to my attention, by Roseanne that plenty of large companies encourage sales by donating a portion of their sales to charities all the time, but when one minute business such as I have, Up Your Ear, it is exploitative. I never in my wildest dreams felt that way and anyone reading this blog, must know that was not at all my intention, but simply, that I was so moved and saddened by the event of the earthquake, and the devastation, left behind after the tsunami, I could hardly believe my eyes, and that this will be, for the Japanese a long road back to recovery. I myself living with so little could only help in this small way and if I could encourage sales by donating $10 per pair of earrings sold, no matter the retail value, it would be a way to help in the only way I could. My sales were meager to say the least, at 2 pairs this week, one offered by a friend, Coreen, from New York, who generously bought one pair of the 2 I sold.. I was able to put up $24. and change towards the American Red Cross, and in that I am grateful. I have never donated anything before, as I never really could afford it, and found that this might be a way, and so it was, meager at best, but a donation never the less.. and if that is exploitive , then so be it, less exploitive than many others that line their pockets, like the credit cards I accept that offer cash rewards to card holders and take all the credit for these same money back rewards, when in fact it comes from the pocket of those merchants that accept those same cards, a larger percentage is taken from the merchant to make up for the cash rewards returned to card holders using them, most card holders don't even know that.. and who may I ask benefits from that? Visa, Mastercard, and Discover, at the expense of the merchant, who receives Zero credit, acknowledgement for accepting said cards..And does anyone give grief to Target who donate to local schools from their profits? do we exclaim how exploitive that is, and how, we should stop shopping there, for how dare they make themselves out to be a better company with a heart for doing so, Not that I know of, in fact I'm proud to shop there, when I can, cause I know a portion of my purchases is going to a good cause.. and what better cause, but education, HELPING OTHERS!! as I just offered in my promotion. I AM NOT ASHAMED OF MY EFFORT. I AM PROUD I FIGURED A WAY TO HELP, AND AT A HUGE EXPENSE if u ask me, do the math, if a pair of earrings runs between $48. and $68. I offered more than 20% of my sales to the effort of helping others while Helping feed my family, anyone one in my financial situation making this effort? I put myself out there, on the line to be ridiculed rather than praised, and I don't give a dam what anyone thinks. Jesus didn't and he would likely set the standard, of good deed doer!! I am not religious, I do not believe that organized religion makes for a loving peaceful, existence, as we fight way to much around the globe over these things which are for said good, but when it comes to the good of the world he, Jesus did set the bar.. selflessly. I will hardly be ever that good, nor will many of us, maybe Mahatma Gandi, another one.. and I'm sure the list goes on.. What they had was faith they were doing good, for the sake of good, what I did was good also, for others, my crew, the forlorn in Japan. so condemn me as u will.. For those that didn't read my blog, right after the earthquake hit, go back and read it, and everyone will know that my only intention was to help.. and if the sales fed my family this week then so be it to, I am everlastingly grateful to those that considered helping and couldn't or made donations of their own, prior to having a chance to purchase UYE earrings.. I feel if anyone wants to help 2 entities, such as Japan and my family, then u are truly more than your ordinary persons, but extraordinary, knowing, what comes around goes around. My heart is filled with love for friends, around the globe, that each of us has our own struggles, with life, be it money, love, loss, while still holding your head high and getting out of bed when sometimes even a sunny day seems like rain.. It isn't easy, everyday can be as beautiful as we make it, and it is by far more difficult when the cards are stacked against you. DON'T despair, I swear we will all do better by being better, in any little effort we make.. This was mine.. Take it or leave it..
Please feel free to visit my website, I have extended the dead line of my contributions, for one more week, to see if I can continue to make a difference, from my heart, and no place else.. while the news moves on to other world events the japanese and my crew are still struggling to do our best in the vastness of life's events..
and incidentally, for the first time since writing this blog I made every effort to capitalize the Letter I, to make a point.. it is Time I realize I count too.. as should you, recognize you count. And with that, count our blessings, The sun is certainly shinning on the other side of the clouds!! lets get there together!! one day at a time!! let the universe hear our good will, and reward each of us, our dreams come true..
write to me tell me your dreams, get them down on paper!! I'd love to hear them..
Mine:
Up Your Ear becomes a Household name by dec. 31st, 2011
I write publish my book a CinderELLA a modern day princess
I write the sequel..
That 20% of my proceeds go to Education, from all entities for which my profits come
That with all this, it allows me the time I have left with my growing children to spend, with them, not working all the time. and making sure they get the education I did not. The love I did not get growing up, that I continue to strive to be a better person, flawed but ambitious to all these endeavors!!
That my health and wealth, out last the test of time, and I leave a legacy to make my children proud to say I Am and was their mother.. and friends to continue to share that love with. and the growth we all have, in each and every week that passes ever so quickly by.
Andrea and Crew
and finally I'm sure there is more to add to this list!!
Here is are links for the ads I sent out, feel free to read you may have to copy and paste I'm not sure:
http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?llr=ecx99deab&v=001NbQR3PfROKmzPzTs7FP7iNwcXkv2y_VzBIZIeRxlFaRF8Wg1mXUFkLM1cj5ZfLa5NtQyAtKA-RkIMZQ8kJqFd0LdL6rLOT-i0d29QJI2zhxdIKaEtC4fTbXuiRhPyuCMQOp1_XZ8Sv4%3D
http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?llr=ecx99deab&v=001qwhULkbmHDsuZd4HFeRcIBuCbXh2gEROq9q56tu-
