Fair has been a source of angst for me because it seems elusive and fictitious. Anybody know what I mean? When my sisters wouldn’t share with me, it felt unfair because I wanted a turn. Basketball officials make inconsistent calls, so the loss feels unfair. The student stands wrongly accused because the teacher didn’t get the whole story. We can certainly identify and empathize with each of these accounts, right?

Who hasn’t said and/or been told, “Life isn’t fair”? Or how about this one, “Fair is where you get corndogs and ride rides.”  We have come to define fair is such strange terms. Truth be told, we often want fair for ourselves, but aren’t as concerned when it comes to others. 

I will never forget driving through El Salvador for the first time. I was wide-eyed, scared and sad. The sadness came from a place of personal conviction. I lived in a land of over-indulgence, and here I encountered living and medical conditions that seemed hopeless and unfair. The people weren’t hopeless, I soon discovered. In spite of a language barrier, I developed a deep friendship with a woman in a small village. The connection we felt was immediate and intimate. We were two woman striving toward similar goals: feed our family and raise strong children. Two women with different opportunities.

This experience changed me. The idea of fair loomed in my mind. Did I care about fairness if it didn’t directly benefit me? I went back a second time and wept as I embraced my friend. We had been writing letters all year and were aware of each other’s challenges and victories. I developed a desire to see her succeed in the face of unfair social norms, and gender barriers. Fair Trade matters to me because I have a friend, in a developing area, that is working for a better tomorrow. It turns out that a better tomorrow can begin today. It can begin with the decisions I make in the market.

Dictionary.com defines fair as free from bias, dishonesty, or injustice. Fair is an adjective in the sense that we tend to use it. It describes a process, interaction, or engagement of sorts. The noun that usually drives this adjective is you and I; people. We can all agree that people are fallible. We are prone to bias and other self-serving measures. 

The concept of Fair Trade is current, or trending, but it’s far more important than just here and now. Fair Trade companies are cropping up in various markets and I think the world of those that have vision and heart for our fellow man around the world. Purchasing from Fair Trade companies often means supporting families and causes worldwide.

Noonday Collection is a Fair Trade company that is making an impact around the globe. My friend, an Ambassador for Noonday, is sponsoring today’s Fair Trade Friday Giveaway. These lovely earrings could be yours if you enter to win!

If you’d like to be entered into a FAIR {like that?} drawing, please do the following:

1. Leave a comment on this post with your name. {one entry}
2. Share this post on social media and tag me. {one entry}
3. Follow Elizabeth on Instagram @txcottagemama. {one entry}

A winner will be drawn on Tuesday morning.

Happy entering!