It is better to give than to receive.

I remember my parents telling me that, usually at Christmas. It came across as one of those mullarky things that parents are always spouting. It probably was but it turns out that it is wiser and more profound than they realized (they have certainly not expressed it in the life they lead).

I have no children and never expect to. I am sure those with children have perfected the whole giving/service thing (or maybe some have). I have had to work at it and found that it is not well supported in our culture. But getting into that mindset is one of the most powerful tools available to us.

I am reminded of the book Your Money or Your Life (definitely worth a read). In it the authors propose that you figure out just how much money you need to live on, figure out a way to squirrel away the rest so that you can retire and be of service!

They understood that a major mistake that Americans are programed to make is to believe that the goal is “luxury.” But luxury is an ephemeral mirage on the horizon that is never reachable due to ever-retreating definitions of what “luxury” consists of. “Enough” is solid and measureable. Satisfaction comes in being of service.

Pheww! that was a philosophical load of hooey. The problem is that I believe it, so I gotta work on it.