Do you believe in karma?
I would be remiss if I let this prompt today go by without connecting it to the swap group I’m in on Ravelry. I don’t want to be too specific about it because that group has been my sanctuary over the years. While I proudly put my name on this blog and all my other social media sites, I’d like to leave my knitting group for myself.
I don’t think I necessarily believe in karma, but the group I’m talking about operates on that premise. The basic concept of swapping in that group is that if you see something you want to claim and have for yourself, you type “me please” in response to the post. If you’re the first person to claim it, you then have to offer something of your own. There are various threads with different themes and rules, but they are all the same concept, you claim something, you offer something.
Of course, not everything you claim has to be for yourself. If you see something offered that you think somebody else would like, you can RAK it to that person. RAK= Random Act of Kindness. That means you claim and have it sent to that person, then you still put up the next offer. That happens quite often actually, which is one of the reasons I love the group so much. Everyone is super generous and thoughtful.
In case you’re wondering, logistically this is done through the mail. I think this group is personally responsible for keeping the United States Postal Service in business. That, and the companies who manufacture polymailers. We tend to either reuse the polymailers that we receive claims in, or we buy a bulk pack of them. That’s what I do. I have a bin of polymailers in various sizes so that I always have one if I have to send out something someone claimed from me.
Google says karma is where your intentions and deeds influence your future. I think that applies to this group. We do good things for others in the group without the expectation of getting something in return for ourselves. And then sometimes an RAK comes out of the blue because someone remembers something good about us.
Speaking of this swap group… I have three bags of yarn that have been sitting on the floor of our craft/hobby room that I have been meaning to offer up in a swap on there. Guess I should go take some pictures and get ready to post my offer.
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