What is Patreon, Why I Joined and What It Means For The Future

If you are like me, you may never have heard of Patreon before. I hadn’t until it was suggested to me and I started investigating.

Growing and increasingly popular among artists, writers, videographers, musicians, and other creators, Patreon is a new, web-based membership platform providing a means for creators to build a subscriber base and receive funding directly from their fans and followers who are seeking a way to reward and provide tangible encouragement, help and support for their creative work, thereby enabling creators to focus on their work and do more.

Historically, “patrons” have directly endorsed and supported creative artists’ work over the centuries.  Patreon is a platform for that to happen once again, by providing fans and followers of creators the opportunity to subscribe as a patron of their work at whichever amount they may choose.

Some patrons may contribute each time a creative work is produced, while other patrons may pledge a small monthly amount to assist the creator on an on-going basis. In many instances, as little as a dollar a month.  Membership participation varies, individual to each creator.

So, if you see a new Patreon button or logo on someone’s page that you follow, or are provided an email link in correspondence, that is what it is all about. A way to reward, encourage, and support the creative work of those you follow and enjoy.

Contrary to advice received over the years, I have steadfastly refused to monetize my writing and creativity blog by incorporating advertisers, and will continue to do so, to never distract from positive messages and enjoyment of visitors, so receive no revenues from this site.

Retired on disability and living on a fixed income which diminishes each year with rising housing costs, medical expenses and inflation, I have become increasingly reliant on revenues from the sale of my teddy bear and other creations in my online stores to offset the costs of the blog and writing, and to make ends meet. At the same time those revenues have been decreasing from more difficult days when hand work becomes more challenging, coupled with more time spent on the blog and writing.

After a great deal of thought I came to the decision to join Patreon to help keep it all going, and as a better alternative to intrusive, annoying and questionably tasteless or shady advertisements running on my blog pages, which I would ultimately have little or no control over.

Patreon provides a reliable means for followers who would like to participate in the process, to help keep both the site and my writing work not only going, but also growing to reach a wider audience with our themes of Children, Family, Kindness, Positivity, Mother Nature and Conservation. That is what it is all about here.

What joining Patreon means, is that thru small monthly pledges and encouragement, Patrons allow me to –

  • Devote a greater amount of time to writing both with Little Red Bear and on exciting new projects in the works,
  • Provide a higher quality experience and educational information for visitors to this site,
  • Reach new readers thru my writing blog, Little Red Bear stories, and other new ways,
  • Continue spreading our positive messages to new audiences,
  • Maintain this site free of advertising and easy loading for reader enjoyment,
  • Be able to continue providing free original reading material, poetry, and wholesome entertainment for all ages.

If you are interested in becoming a Patron and would like to learn more about what it involves, simply Visit my Patreon Page and discover the exclusive rewards in store for Patrons as my Thank You – including writing updates, sneak peaks of upcoming releases, extra materials not able to be included in stories and books, the ability to participate in my Patron community, and much more.

Sharing kindness, positivity, and care for Mother Nature, together we can reunite and unify the pieces to help bring about a better future for our children and grandchildren.

Thanks as always for visiting with us. If not able to become a Patron at this time, please be assured that my writing blog will always remain free and accessible for all, and thank you always for your encouragement by following along.  – Jim (and Red!)


If you enjoy your visits here, Become a Patron of this site and my writing work, helping to grow and expand our outreach to others. Find out more and discover Patron benefits today!


“Someone’s sitting in shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.” – Warren Buffet

                                              

“I’ll lift you, and you lift me, and we’ll ascend together.” – John Greenleaf Whittier


Old-fashioned, Family-friendly Stories and Fun for All Ages and Fitness Levels!
About an Uncommonly Special Bear and His Friends.

“In a gentle way, you can shake the world.” ― Mahatma Gandhi


                                       Enjoy Your Visit?  One-time Tips  Are Appreciated.                               Help Keep It Going For Others!


 

Special Just The Way You Are

It may sound silly and a few may giggle,

Or feel uneasy and then start to wriggle.

But we’re each very special in our own way,

So, taking a moment to let you know that today.

What Mr. Rogers said is truer than true,

I’m grateful for each and every one of you.

And whether you are near or somewhere afar,

Please know that I like you,  just the way you are.


Thanks as always for visiting!  A single word, smile or act of kindness has the magical power to totally transform someone’s day and life.  Be the reason someone smiles today! — Jim  (and Red!)


        “Let everything we do and say be an expression of the beauty in our heart,                 always based on love.” – Don Miguel Ruiz

“The sign of a beautiful person is that they always see beauty in others.” – Omar Suleiman


Old-fashioned, Family-friendly Stories and Fun for All Ages and Fitness Levels!
About an Uncommonly Special Bear and His Friends.

“The greatest gift you ever give is your honest self.” – Fred Rogers


 

Peace In Our Time, Hope for the Future

Having just passed another Memorial Day Observance followed by the 73rd anniversary of the D-Day Invasion of Normandy, although ‘anniversary’ never seems the best choice of word, a thought came to me.

Wouldn’t it be nice, if OUR generation,

Recalling the sacrifices of the PAST generations,

Figured out a way so the NEXT generation could live in peace,

And not be memorialized for their sacrifices by the FOLLOWING generations?

World War I was billed as “The War to End All Wars”.  It wasn’t, as WWI was followed shortly by World War II.  In turn followed soon thereafter by the Korean War.

Two years later, in 1955,  Jill Jackson Miller and Sy Miller composed a beautiful song which most are familiar with and have sung together on Sundays, but perhaps we need to listen more closely next time and take personal responsibility in its message.

Their song  began —

                                        “Let their be Peace on Earth, and let it begin with me.                                                              Let there be Peace on Earth,  the Peace that was meant to be.”

        “If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.”        – Mother Teresa

“They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.”

— from ‘For the Fallen’, by Robert Laurence Binyon

“If you wish to experience peace, provide peace for another.” – Dalai Lama

In 1969 during the Vietnam War, John Lennon later added — “Give Peace a Chance.” 

We keep writing and singing songs about peace. Perhaps it is time we finally follow thru to put words into action and give Peace a chance in our time, so our great-grandchildren will not be memorializing our children and grandchildren.

Thanks for visiting with us again. We wish you Peace.  Help the world to find a better way, and be the reason someone smiles today! — Jim (and Red!)


“Peace begins with a smile.” – Mother Teresa

                   “Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding.”                     – Albert Einstein


Old-fashioned, Family-friendly Stories and Fun for All Ages and Fitness Levels!
About an Uncommonly Special Bear and His Friends.

         “When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.”                ― Jimi Hendrix


 

I Will Greet This Day With Love In My Heart!

An inspiring and thoughtful selection from  Og Mandino, and a lovely way to begin each day and go thru life.

I will greet this day with love in my heart.

For this is the greatest secret of success in all ventures. Muscle can split a shield and even destroy a life, but only the unseen power of love can open the hearts of men, and until I master this art I will remain no more than a peddler in the marketplace.

I will make love my greatest weapon and none on whom I call can defend against its force.

My reasoning they may counter; my speech they may distrust; my apparel they may disapprove; my face they may reject; and even my bargains may cause them suspicion; yet my love will melt all hearts liken to the sun whose rays soften the coldest clay.

I will greet this day with love in my heart.

From ‘The Scroll Marked Two’ by Og Mandino in his book “The Greatest Salesman in the World”.  For the complete piece and more information, please tap the link to see my Page — “I Will Greet This Day With Love In My Heart”.

“He who comes to do good knocks at the gate.  

He who loves finds the gate open.”

— Rabindranath Tagore

Thanks as always for visiting and wishing you the very best.  Spread some Love and Kindness in the world today! — Jim (and Red!)

Family Times — Together Times — The Best Times!

~ Children Learn To Read on the Laps of Their Parents ~

Old-fashioned, Family-friendly Stories and Fun for All Ages and Fitness Levels!
About an Uncommonly Special Bear and His Friends.

New Year’s Life To-Do List

As we begin our journey into the New Year, I don’t know if these exactly qualify as “Resolutions” per se, so let’s just call them “Things To Do.”  Regardless of what we label the top of the page, they are a nice way to go about one’s life with family and the world in general.

“This year, mend a quarrel. Seek out a forgotten friend. Dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust. Write a letter. Give a soft answer. Encourage youth. Manifest your loyalty in word and deed. Keep a promise. Forgo a grudge. Forgive an enemy. Apologize. Try to understand. Examine your demands on others. Think first of someone else. Be kind. Be gentle. Laugh a little more. Express your gratitude. Welcome a stranger. Gladden the heart of a child. Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth. Speak your love and then speak it again.” ~ Howard W. Hunter

Wishing everyone the very best Peace, Love, Health and Happiness in the New Year!  —  Jim ( and Red!)

Peace  —  Compassion  —  Kindness  —  Love

 Family Times — Together Times — The Best Times!

Wishing You a Very Good Year!

Happy New Year!  Wishing You a Very Good Year!

If you spend the coming year as if it were the very First Year in your life – opening your Mind to be Grateful, Aware and Alert to all of life’s Awe, Beauty, Wonders and Miracles;

and as if it were to be the very Last Year in your life – opening your Heart to all of life’s Kindness, Love, Compassion and Blessings;

and then letting them flow thru you to everyone that you meet and to everything around you —  to be blessed by your Smile, by your Touch, and by your Presence;

then you will have spent the coming year quite well — and it will truly be a very good year.    

This was adapted for the new year from my “Wishing You A Very Good Day” entry in the ‘About the Blog’ section, inspired by a message from Brother David Steindl-Rast.

Wishing you and your loved ones all the very best of health, happiness and prosperity in the coming year!   — Jim  (and Red!)

Peace  —  Compassion  —  Kindness  —  Love

Family Times — Together Times — The Best Times!