Several years ago I stopped participating in the mindless commercialism of Christmas gifting and make contributions to the local food bank in the names of the people on my gift list and I asked them to do the same instead of buying gifts for me.The reactions to this went from wholehearted support by the younger generation to outright indignation and disbelief by the older family members.
I think that was a good decision. The range of responses you got doesn’t surprise me. As Epictetus says, if you live philosophically, be ready for some people to mock you or be angry with you. So be it, their behavior is not up to you.
I was reminded of a quote by Annie Dillard. She talks about writing and sharing her knowledge, but it's also about giving: Anything you do not give freely and abundantly becomes lost to you. You open your safe and find ashes.
How should gifts given with a stick or an electric prod in hand and with the demand to completely distance yourself from all types of friends or relatives be interpreted or appreciated?
The text is nice, interesting, and insightful. I may be adding extra interpretations to it because of the very possibility of the prod situation in certain gift exchanges. Thank you.
Living, being ethical through our giving and receiving - such amazing thinking, teaching, writing by Seneca! And yet another amazing teaching and writing essay...thank you, Massimo!
Several years ago I stopped participating in the mindless commercialism of Christmas gifting and make contributions to the local food bank in the names of the people on my gift list and I asked them to do the same instead of buying gifts for me.The reactions to this went from wholehearted support by the younger generation to outright indignation and disbelief by the older family members.
I think that was a good decision. The range of responses you got doesn’t surprise me. As Epictetus says, if you live philosophically, be ready for some people to mock you or be angry with you. So be it, their behavior is not up to you.
I was reminded of a quote by Annie Dillard. She talks about writing and sharing her knowledge, but it's also about giving: Anything you do not give freely and abundantly becomes lost to you. You open your safe and find ashes.
Very nice!
Also, consider giving with a warm heart not a cold hand. Have a will, of course but don’t want till you croak to be generous.
Exactly. That's one of Seneca's major points: practice true generosity.
How should gifts given with a stick or an electric prod in hand and with the demand to completely distance yourself from all types of friends or relatives be interpreted or appreciated?
Ana, I'm not sure I understand your question. To give or not to give a gift is up to us. How it is interpreted or understood is not.
The text is nice, interesting, and insightful. I may be adding extra interpretations to it because of the very possibility of the prod situation in certain gift exchanges. Thank you.
Living, being ethical through our giving and receiving - such amazing thinking, teaching, writing by Seneca! And yet another amazing teaching and writing essay...thank you, Massimo!
Much welcome, Ann!