A fair balance of giving and receiving

I don't buy the claim that giving is better than receiving. To me, this sentiment is deeply rooted in the attempt of many religious and political leaders back in the ancient past to play on and take advantage of the gullibility and generosity of their flocks or constituents.

To me, the key is balance. It should be always a fair case of giving and receiving or a give-and-take relationship.

After all, if everyone will simply give and give, then who would end up receiving--the wicked, greedy, and cunning ones? It's so illogical.

It's All Such a Blur!' Nah, Not to Me

(On Remembering the Past with Potent Lucidity)

Many people, when asked about their youthful past, would tend to quip, "It's now all a blur to me!" Why? Maybe because they had more bad than good experiences so they didn't want to remember as much about it; or, worse, they were always pharmaceutically or alcoholically high during the heyday of their youthful days so remembering becomes a mental challenge for them, a sort of a mental disability.

Not to me. The 1990s to me is only like yesterday. I remember so many things, activities, places and faces, music and events. In fact, I still remember so many events in my childhood in the 1970s, what more in the 1990s. Why? Most likely because I'm a very introspective and retrospective person. I love remembering and documenting things. I love music, which could be an effective bookmark for such memories. I love writing, which caused me to document many highlights in my life. And ultimately, I never dabbled in any mind-altering substances; never even engaged in alcohol drinking; and this has made my mind as naturally potent and functional as it could be.