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I also support helping others..but it should also be done because you want to help others, not because you feel obligated to. I think once people start doing things because they want to show off to their friends, they loose the spirit of it, and I've known some people who are very loud about how helpful they are, but if you watch them, when they 'help' they are quite mean about it and not very helpful at all.
You've reiterated my point beautifully. You should never do things for the sake of other people as a way to show off. That takes everything you've done and devalues it. That's like people who are in your face about their religion. Do it because it moves you in spirit, heart, soul, and everything about your being, and not because it makes you look good. No offense, but that's a lot like being an uber "fire and brimstone" Christian. (As in "you're not impressing anyone!")
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I'd rather dedicate my life to helping myself.
That is never a bad thing, especially if you are wanting to move your life progressively forward toward a better potential. In doing so, you become a better member of society, and that in it's own way helps others around you.
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Why? Just out of interest. I mean I get why you'd do it, I'm just not sure why it falls to the childfree, or why a life would be taken for granted if you choose not to help those around you.
I say this because when you become a parent your child or children should be one of your top priorities. While doing things for others and for yourself is important, you have a very strong obligation to the life that you have made. Now, as those children grow and get older you should show them things that are important to you. That's actually a great way to bond with those children and foster ideas and attitudes that will stay with them all their lives. The older they get, the more freedoms you will both gain, them especially as they become the people that they have chosen to be and that you have fostered them to become. I hope that makes sense.
Now, I'm not saying that parents are always right. Parents are after all human beings who are shaped by their beliefs, mistakes, accomplishments, and so forth, just like any other person. What one parent sees as right may not be what another person sees as right. (I know some of you have run into this road bump with your faith vs. your parents faith.)
By living the child free lifestyle, you have the opportunity to grow to a completely different potential. I on a personal note feel it's a waste to not take that for granted. It's like a blank canvas that you can use to make your situation better, weather it's for just yourself or for the betterment of those around you. By filling that canvas, you are ultimately contributing to life around you weather you know it or not. How much you contribute to it completely up to you.
I hope this helps clear a few things up.
IEditYourWorld
