Somersaults
What do you do when the world is getting you down and you can’t take anymore bad news? For Enika Poehling, the answer was somersaults.
Enika was in our shop a few days ago picking up fair trade gifts for a family with a newborn along with a couple of other items. We chatted for quite awhile and, at one point, she related how she recently resolved the symptoms caused by contemplating the more frustrating problems of the world.
After listening to a particularly horrendous news story about a government contractor using tar full of toxic waste to pave municipal streets, she had reached her breaking point. “I was like this,” she said gritting her teeth and clenching her fists. I’m sure you can relate.
Someone had advised her to put her feet up to combat stress and muscle strain. It occured to her to just continue the movement and roll all the way over. After completing a series of somersaults, she said she was cured of the stress of the moment. “I’m 59 and half and I’m doing somersaults,” she chuckled at me giddily.
Sometimes the thing we need is silly, delightful, and a bit childish, like running through puddles or making snow angels. On the other hand, there are lots of practical and powerful ways to combat the world’s problems. Perhaps buying fair trade artisan goods is like doing a somersault with your pocketbook.
Thanks, Enika, for a great story.
Keep shopping your good values!
Kile