Ubuntu – Humanity towards others

First of all let me thank you for spending your valuable time reading my random musings about things going on the in world that interest me. You guys have left some really nice comments on your thoughts about my views on some of the issues going on around us. This has prompted me to let you know more about the reasons why I started this blog. One of the most important lessons I have learned in life is to never stop learning. Many of my new ideas, concepts, perspectives, and thoughts often come from combinations of old ones that others have shared with me. I have learned than when issues arise at home or at work there are often several perspectives of looking at the situation. I have often said to family members, co-workers, and employees that have approached me with a complaint about something that someone else has either done or neglected to do, “There is more than one side to every coin”. For instance take just about any hot button political topic you hear about today and listen to what both political parties have to say. After listening to both sides of the issue you will probably realize that while they are talking about two different sides of the “coin”, they are really talking about the same “coin”.

Ubuntu is an age-old African term for humaneness - for caring, sharing and being in harmony with all of creation. As an ideal, it promotes co-operation between individuals, cultures and nations. In the past year several subjects have caught my attention: Our national economy, the importance of eliminating personal debt, having a good supply of stored food, and using alternative energy sources are just a few on my list. When I take a look at some of the problems in the word today I also feel a need to start looking towards finding some solutions and even alternatives to these problems. I know that I don’t have all of the answers to these problems, but I know that a lot of other people do have some of the pieces of this puzzle that can help with finding the answers. When I am able to put some of these puzzle pieces together I feel better about my own place in the world and I feel a deep need to share what I have learned with others. When I stumble onto something that helps me lead a more productive or more secure life I want to share that something with others. Knowledge is power, but how much power does my knowledge really give me if I don’t use it or share it with others so that we can all live better lives.

Value-for-value. The concept of trading something you have that has value, for something else that has value is a very simple concept that is very old. With that in mind you might ask why I would spend my time (something that I value) and give it to you in the form a free blog (getting nothing in return). You see that the equation really is in balance when you look at the big picture. The time that others have taken to share their wisdom with me can only be repaid when I combine their wisdom with my own thoughts and then share that combined wisdom with others. In keeping this value for value equation in balance, when I give you something of value by sharing ideas with you that can, and will, help you lead a more secure and self sufficient life, I expect you to give me value in return by using these ideas and sharing them with others to build a better community for all of us. You see, I can sum this entire post up in a single word, and keep the value-for-value equation in balance; Ubuntu.