Gridlock News

To much Junk definitely causes gridlock in traffic, in politics, in finances, in life and in spirit.  Here's 9 suggestions to reduce the junk and the gridlock!

1. Give the Gift of Life - Heifer.org ~ organization enables people to give pairs of livestock to poor families in villages around the world.  The offspring of these animals must then be given to other members of the village.
2. Care Packages for Deployed Troops - ~ Send a care package, post card, food etc to a specific person in the military deployed somewhere around the world.  It cheers them up significantly shows them they are supported and that positive encouragement often times helps them to renew their spirits just a bit and pass that along to the people they encounter.  Keep your ambassadors Happy and Healthy!
3. Worried about Dangerous Toys?- Don't buy any toys for Christmas.  Its really kind of simple.  (Although I'm still trying to convince my own wife and family.)  Instead use that money to DO something with your family, maybe a family vacation, a trip to a museum, concert, play, play some games, go hiking, skiing, sledding anything but why waste the money on something that will probably end up in the trash bin in a few weeks and might even be dangerous.
4. Buy your Kids a Pet - Adopt a cat or dog from a shelter.  You might even consider getting rabbits or guinea pigs or a chinchilla or a bird or something.  An animal helps your children learn some responsibility but more importantly it helps them learn how to connect and practice kindness.  But don't expect it to happen automatically.  If your child has no experience with pets, then you may need to teach them this behavior.  Playing with a toy or a doll or stuffed animal is not the same as playing with a dog or cat or rabbit.  Take the time to teach your child how to be kind to the animal.
5. Share Books or Books on Tape or Books on CD - Once you have listened to one of these books, possibly even during a road trip during the holidays to a friend or relative's house, then give them the book so that they can share in the experience.  If you must spend something a subscription to Audible.com can be a great gift as well.
6. Give a Laptop Get a Laptop See - LaptopGiving.org from the 1 laptop project
7. Make a DVD to send to your relatives.  It doesn't cost much these days, but does take a lot of work and effort.  The tools are easy with apple or WindowsMovieMaker(free with XP or Vista)
8. Go to the Mattresses - This is kind of a necessity, but its also something that people do not think of during the holidays.  I only think of it now as I have been sleeping on a terrible bed the last few months while I live in corporate housing.  A good comfortable bed is definitely the gift that keeps on giving, plus if they must have a stylish present you can always opt for whatever their tastes might lean towards from simple platform beds to something lofty.  Just make sure you focus on getting a good mattress!
9. Buy someone their name as a domain - example mine  BrettBumeter.com  Of course I haven't done anything with the domain yet, but it does redirect to my info.  Nice gift for the kids as well, kind of let's them grow into themselves on the internet.  It's a little vane but so is a Lexus to Remember.