Quite a few years ago I watched an episode of Oprah that didn’t sit well with me. Like food poisoning it made me feel ill and I just wanted to expel it. Normally she doesn’t bother me. Normally I agree with her style. But this one episode was about towels. Towels that match, to be precise. Actually the episode was probably a lot deeper psychologically than the blues or greens of your towels, but it’s been a few years ago.
Of all the things I can do to help the world be a better place for my children or other’s children, matching my towels is very low on the list. I can think of feeding the seniors in the Dallas/Ft Worth area that Dogma Debate recently promoted until the end of 2013 Dogma Debate-donate. There’s supporting the gift of water to those who have no access to clean drinking water that Matt Damon’s organization sponsors, water.org. The ASPCA programs to help abandoned and abused animals. Kiva organizes low-interest loans to those wanting to better their economic circumstances. There are hundreds of projects and programs to help those around me.
Also, throwing away perfectly good towels just because they are red, blue, brown or pink when I really want a blue bathroom today, seems wasteful. Replacing the towels and wash cloths will cost me, and why? To help my self-esteem? No, it really won’t. So when I get up in the morning and take my shower, if my towel is the red and blue striped one with faded spots on it, I really don’t care. I got to share in the water.org project and feed a low-income senior citizen for a month instead. That brings value to my life, but most importantly is there’s absolutely no reason that our elderly should go without a meal, EVER! And you know those people in India or Latin America? They can cook their food in safe water.
Alright, I’ll get off my preacher box now. It’s not that getting new towels is so horrible. It’s only that people with influence over the minds of others could encourage us to so much more. It bothered me then and it seems it still bothers me. Please, I welcome your comments. For or against? Let me know.
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janetkwest.com 
[…] What Color Are Your Towels? […]
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Jumped over from your Charity Time of Year post, since I missed this initially.
I also love MUCH about what Oprah does, but there are a couple of things that bother me more than a little bit as well (like a long-ago program where a courageous ADDer disclosed her own battles with sexual impulsivity and was SAVAGED by the audience while Oprah did nothing to stop it with a much needed reframe or counter-opinion to their comments).
I happen to know that fallout from that particular show had a *devastating* effect on the life of this particular woman.
Since I haven’t owned a television for the last 20 years, I don’t really keep up with anybody’s “live” offerings, but I feel I must add that said program may have been prior to the time she took over production of her own show because she didn’t like what she was “encouraged” to do for ratings (or herself, when she complied).
But, to my knowledge, there has never been an apology offered or a do-over show, so I have no idea where she stands on the disorder today — and you have to know that REALLY bothers me anytime I think about it.
ABOUT Towels
MY OWN raggedy collection of very old towels are a hot mess – but I tended to have favored similar bathroom decor throughout my life, so (except for one or two from the ones sent with me to COLLEGE!), they are sort of “color-matched.”
HOWEVER, I rarely use them much, preferring to step out of the bath and wrap myself in an oversized terrycloth robe instead. Even though I really enjoy the beautiful and the new, I keep robes until they practically fall apart, because money used for that purpose is not at the top of my budget list either. (My birthday robe this year was a replacement for one gifted to me long before I left NYC, for example – several decades ago!)
Another great post encouraging all of us to examine our values and our priorities (and to walk our talk!). Thanks.
xx,
mgh
(Madelyn Griffith-Haynie – ADDandSoMuchMore dot com)
– ADD Coach Training Field founder; ADD Coaching co-founder –
“It takes a village to transform a world!”
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[…] It’s that time of the year again. Just like last year, I wanted to share with you a couple of my favorite charities. Here’s a link to last year’s, What Color Are Your Towels? […]
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I am deeply grateful for your perspective and justifiable outrage. I find it too difficult to watch most talk shows for the same reason.
Thank you especially for taking the time to reseaand add resources….a labor of love.
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You’re welcome. And thank you for your comment. Hopefully we can help the world be a better place.
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