Time banking is a way for communities to capture value without monetary cost through the recognition of individuals’ skills and time by the use of an indirect time-tracking instrument. Active engagement in time banking partnerships can enable members of a community to grow their personal networks, make lasting friendships, gain…
Category: Social and Self-Help
Exploring things social, inspirational and motivational
What Kind of Hand Were You Dealt in Life: A Reflection on Responsibility and Choice
We are not held responsible for the hand that we have been delt in life but we are, most certainly, held responsible for the way that we play that hand. Life is not a game of fairness but rather one of uncertainty. The cards that we are dealt – our…
Is This Illusory World Just a Waiting Room for Hell?
Throughout history, philosophers have wrestled with the idea that the world we live in is not what it seems. From Plato’s Allegory of the Cave to Hindu Maya, thinkers have proposed that reality is a veil concealing deeper truths. What if this illusion is more sinister than mere ignorance? Could…
If It’s Worth Doing, It’s Worth Doing Well: Is Less Actually More?
There’s an old saying that insists, “If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing well.” This sentiment comes to us today from a time when quality was actually important, when craftsmanship was appreciated, and when people took pride in building and creating things that would last. But with the rise of…
Comparing the Decline of the Roman Empire and the Modern American “Empire”
The rise and fall of great empires often follow patterns of expansion, consolidation, and eventual decline. The Roman Empire, which dominated the ancient world for centuries, serves as a seemingly relevant historical case study for understanding how a superpower can unravel. Today, many scholars and commentators have drawn parallels between…
You Can’t Help Those Who Won’t Help Themselves
In our communities we see that ever-increasing needs is becoming the norm – many of them urgent – and community service and outreach programs strive to selflessly meet those needs, offering resources to those struggling to make ends meet. The intention behind such programs is simple: to provide assistance, support,…
The Tyranny of Unbridled Desire and the Truth of Love
Most of what we regard as important in life is a carefully constructed illusion – empty pursuits that masquerade as meaning but ultimately amount to nothing more than distractions. The glittering ambitions of wealth, fame, and power entice us, yet they lead to hollow and temporary victories. We aspire to…
Resistance is Futile: Are We Going to be Assimilated?
In Star Trek: The Next Generation, the Borg are introduced as a terrifying new kind of enemy that blends biological beings with cybernetic enhancements, creating a collective society driven by a singular goal – perfection through assimilation. And as with all existence-altering movements, the definition of “perfection” is in the…
The Meaning of “Life-ing” Through Time and Its Relevance Today
The concept of “life-ing” has been experiencing a resurgence, though its origins date back to the 1880s when it was introduced by poet and novelist George MacDonald. His definition of the term was deeply rooted in a philosophical and spiritual view of life, proposing that true life begins when a…
The Measure of Wisdom: Bearing Good Fruit
In James 3:13, the Bible teaches, “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.” This verse exhorts us to recognize and practice true wisdom – not in abstract knowledge or lofty words but…