Morning everyone, this will be quick as I am sneaking it in at work as The Big Sleep out is July 2 so donations close tomorrow I think.
To my relief and joy Sam arrived back from Europe yesterday. One of the first things he “confessed” to was that, as he didn’t need my sleeping bag much he had given it to a homeless man in London. I think he thought I might be annoyed. To the contrary I am so happy that he feels this compassion. This reminded me of the Lifewise initiative.
The Big Sleep Out is on again in Auckland on Thursday night. A colleague is trading his home comforts for a night on cardboard on the street.
Robert wrote this article about the event for the Lifewise website.
http://blog.bigsleepout.org.nz/why-my-bad-day-is-actually-not-so-bad/#sthash.xi6CRjKy.dpbs
If you are able to, please think about donating at
http://bigsleepout.org.nz/ as they are a little short of their target right now.
Money Can Buy Happiness…but only of you give it away. (See my earlier posts on the science of happiness)
Here is an excerpt from http://shawnhunter.com/money-can-buy-happiness-if-you-give-it-away/
Michael Norton and his colleagues Elizabeth Dunn and Lara Akninresearched whether money can really buy happiness. The hypothesis was that after basic needs of shelter, food, education, and living standards are met, extra income has little impact on personal happiness, except when we spend it on acts of generosity.
The reason for the study was based on the paradox that although people spend so much of their time and effort trying to make more and more money, having all that money does not seem to make them as happy. Could it be that they were not spending money the right way? The idea was if people were encouraged to spend money differently, perhaps we might be able to generate a greater sense of joy within ourselves and others.
An interesting part of the study revealed that this goes directly against our own instincts. When asked, 65% of those surveyed stated that spending money on themselves would make them the happiest. Additionally, over 85% believed that receiving $20 to spend would have a greater happiness advantage than $5. Wrong again. Turns out that the amount we spend on others doesn’t make that much of a happiness difference. The important part is the act of generosity, not the amount we spend.
Have a good week, I will write about the final throes of shifting later in the week. FG
Fluffy George 