Christmas & Charity

_{No one should be alone with Christmas, the truth is many are or feel lonely and this is the hardest time of the year. Just because of a date.}

Whoever believes I am good through and through and an idiot falling for every lie is wrong.
I hate doing good, charities because there is always more money going to the organization, a few people, than is spent on the cause. Giving, sharing is no fun and does not feel good if you have nothing to eat yourself or need the money badly in a week or month. The only thing that remains is bitterness because no matter how much you give, the receiver will never do anything for you if in need, will never ask how you are doing or coping.

Those who give a lot and are always there for others are the first to be forgotten because people think "they will manage" next to that they attract parasites.
After years of travelling and living in different countries, I noticed that the manipulating attitude is also a cultural difference. The "poor" countries find it very normal to manipulate, scam, lie and the expression "it is better to beg than to steal" does not impress me. There is something else besides begging, namely working! Working, getting to work, one or even three jobs is also an option to pay the bills. The result of not only dozens but even hundreds of years of development work is that the average person in need has learned that working is not necessary, being a farmer is looked down upon, just like running a shop, because you can just beg and if necessary extort money by force. A


Christmas Carol... Is Ebenezer a miser? I don't think so. He lives frugally and would be praised today for saving the environment and his low CO2 footprint. It's also not my belief that someone who works hard and saves should share his fortune with others. What is the value of honest work and money, investing your time, putting effort into something, if you get everything for free offered on a silver plate? Discontent and greed and it's what I see a lot around here lately.

I won't say that the streets where I live are full of beggars, but the behaviour of the average man who holds up his hand is more than shameful and aggressive. Even children are called misers if they don't give up all their pocket money.
Christmas? Doing good? I think it's hypocritical if you only do something for someone because of a date in the year. Why only then? Is it after "a good deed" easier to unwrap gifts or have a party without a bad conscience?

As far as Xmas is concerned, the reality is that many do not celebrate it for many years, even in countries that are thought to be rich. The only thing noticed is wealth shown in advertisements and commercials and on the internet. Christmas out on the street, under a bridge, in front of the Red Cross shelter that no longer has a bed available will never be made visible to all those depressed, lonely and elderly sitting in the cold and dark during this period of the year.

Charity, whether it is for your fellow man or an animal, is a rarity. "Exchange makes you cry", is a Dutch expression and so does the advice that you should not give away under duress or what you yourself cannot afford. But who admits that he lives in poverty if it is still seen as a disgrace or you are labelled a failure?

Fortunately, a lot has changed and more people dare to say that they are poor and put their pride aside.
Pride is worthless if you live on the street, are unemployed and have not eaten anything warm in weeks.
It is interesting to see how many immigrants know their way to all the aid agencies without fail, while their fellow countrymen do not know what to do, or who to ask in an emergency. By the way, I suspect that the situation is not much different from that of other countries,

Christmas as a date can be abolished. It only creates more hypocrisy and unhappy, depressed people. That tree with lights can also stand in the living room all year round as a reminder of the dark days that everyone has sooner or later in their lives. What we have in common worldwide is that the year in which we live is coming to an end. For some it is December for others this will be on January 29, 2025.
Let's all try to make a few friends and not lie to them and abuse them and also work on making Steemit a pleasant platform. You don't have to like me and can just ignore me there is enough space for everyone.

Donations/help during the dark days of the year?
I said I would see what I would do with the SP of this account.
I have delegated 50 SP to three artists each and also 1500 to the Art & Artists community.

The artists are @tezzmax, @krucekoncept and @jayes-art. Indeed, all three are Nigerian and I will support them as long as they invest in art and in Steemit.

Why not other artists? Because I don't see them, although a few have introduced themselves and next left.

More charity?
I did a round this morning to wish friends a good end. I also offered help to one of them. Not with Steem or SP because it simply takes too long to get my hands on it.
Is this the first time I've done this? No. The loan I once gave was neatly repaid without me having to ask for it (something that people can still learn from).

You can make good friends on Steemit, especially if you're not looking for them.

I had an unexpectedly active year and learned a lot through and thanks to Steemit and it was a good year. I hope you experienced the same.
Thank you to all those I met and the Steemit Team. Long story short: Merry days and a good end of 2024.

P.s. If you give do it only if you can miss it. See here for the Final Gift Exchange Contest hosted by @dove11.
I didn't join but did what I did.

24.12.24