Issue #2: “How Giving Brings a Better Life”
Issue Contents
Hue (theory)
On the Dignity of Generosity
Hearth (practice)
True Therapy — Expressing Gratitude for the Giver
A Day in the Life of Colin the Contributist
Reflection
American Cinquains, Vol. II
Pablo’s Note:
Can giving bring us a better life? This issue’s contributors say yes. The first entry is on dignity, and explains what the contributist means when we say that “giving is the dignifying act.” The second entry describes how giving is itself therapy, and how a good therapist restores their client’s right to give. Then, an examination (in parody) of a day in the life of the contributist — I find that there is surprising insight in its exaggeration. Lastly, a second set of cinquains submitted by our readers. You many continue to write and send them in to [email protected].
Thank you for giving us your time, and a special thank you to everyone who chose to contribute.
Pablo Parabola
Hue (theory)
“They love having the opportunity to give”: How generosity powers the homeschooling community in Atlanta
(Est. Reading Time: 5 minutes)
“The contributist believes that dignity is found in giving, that the act of giving profoundly connects us to our humanity. But what does this mean?”
Hearth (practice)
True Therapy — Expressing Gratitude for the Giver
(Est. Reading Time: 4 minutes)
“How many of us are willing to even consider dying for the betterment of the people we love? But I know, as a therapist and as a personal friend of someone who died by suicide, that the tragic irony here is that suicide is not giving but taking. And being alive, being a beautiful presence and energy on this earth, no matter how troubled, is a form of giving to everyone who loves you.”
A Day in the Life of Colin the Contributist
(Est. Reading Time: 3 minutes)
“I present to you the (exaggerated) day in the life of Colin the Contributist.”
Reflection
“Attention is the rarest and purest form of generosity.” — Simone Weil
American Cinquains, Vol. II
(Est. Reading Time: 2 minutes)
(printed in full below)
American Cinquains, Vol. II
I. How Rare
How rare
These days to see...
You could have spent or saved
But somehow chose instead to give...
What gives?
II. Difficult Pedagogue
Oh Pain
My bright teacher
How tenderly you smack
Keeping me upright, on the mend
For now
III. Downsizing
Marie
Kondo, will you
help me to give away
my Roth IRA? Will we be wiser
someday?
IV. What if
What if
The world was good?
Could we also be good?
Or would our presence undermine
What was?