I remember when we were taught at school never to serve ourselves first. The catechism teacher explained very seriously that we should always let everyone else present pick their apple from the basket before we took one. I was only 9 at the time, but that scene is still vividly marked in my memory. I smirked because I hated apples 😜 My mind was thinking: "I don't like apples. Please be my guest! Get all the servings. You would be doing me a favor if no apple was left over for me to take. But don't you dare touch my books..." That teacher interrupted my thoughts and chose to ask me what I would do if I were at a dinner or gathering and I was offered fruits, like oranges for example. One needs to keep in mind that the Lebanese are very hospitable people and many of them would be offended if they offered coffee, tea, or something to eat and one would decline. I guess that's where my horror of large gatherings comes from, especially the ones that involved family and where you would be stuffed like a mutton getting prepped for slaughter. But I digress. I diligently said I would let the others make their selection first. But I did dare to ask: if everyone waited until everyone else made a choice, that exercise would take forever. Someone had to go first, right? I recall the teacher replying to me that God's legacy to us was all about sharing lovingly. The remaining of the lesson is hazy in my mind...
A few years later, my parents sent me to continue my schooling in Germany. And being away from them made me think a lot about the values they had taught me. It was my coping mechanism in a foreign land where I didn't speak the language, where I had to adapt myself to a new culture and adjust my behavior accordingly. That luckily worked like a charm as my way of thinking and processing social occurrences felt comfortable with the Nordic way of doing things as I like to describe it. I did not want to forget my roots or my culture. Even after becoming a German citizen, it was important to me to keep what I appreciated about my "oriental culture". I show my care by sharing my food, my knowledge, my culture, my empathy, and my time. I highly dislike small talk, gossip, and wasting time in the sunshine. So when it comes to sharing, and since I have no attachment to material things, I never hesitate to give or donate something I have that someone fancied in front of me. After all, that stuff is replaceable if need be. Even belongings offered to me by my close family circle and my 3 closest friends can change hands without the blink of an eye when I sense the need for that. For decades, I gave without thinking whether that action would affect me and in what way. Then Iife taught me, and quite vigorously, that holding my horses from time to time just protects me from being taken advantage of...
The outline of this post is that by sharing with others personal satisfaction occurs. I can even say that sharing knowledge and life stories is essential. That is what I do when I write specific informational articles. And I am currently preparing a project to be launched as soon as I have it ready. So stay tuned!
Some quotes about sharing:
Creating is about sharing ideas, sharing aesthetics, sharing what you believe in with other people - Shepard Fairey
Share each other's burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ - Galatians 6:2
We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give - Anonymous
Happiness is only real when shared - Jon Krakauer
There is no joy in life like the joy of sharing - Billy Graham
Life is about creating and living experiences that are worth sharing - Steve Jobs
Power is gained by sharing knowledge, not hoarding it - Maria Khan
