When speaking about living “a good life” that wonderful teacher, Jim Rohn, suggested that “it is our responsibility to produce enough to cover our own needs”. If we don’t, then we must draw from the community to survive and that is not sustainable. Rohn then says: “Once we have produced enough for our own needs it then becomes a responsibility to help those who do not produce enough for themselves”.
Among all the things we strive for, or place importance upon, as we climb our ladder in life, we all know that maxim “you can’t take it with you” is the truth. The reality is, that day will come for each of us when we look back and wonder if we have lived “a good life”: a life you were proud of; a life your family was proud of; one that others spoke well of when you were gone. Better to think about that early I reckon and be sure you have your ladder propped up against the right wall as you climb to the top in your life.
If not for community we really cease to exist. If we are fortunate to live in a community where our days are not spent simply surviving, we must have opportunities to do more, be more and have more. We are destined to grow – its natural – and since there is no static we are either growing and developing or disintegrating. It seems to me that someone who produces more and therefore has more, can do more in the community – at least, they ought to.