Love, Justice, & Generosity

Relationships are the key, three different people, and you grow wealthier when you give.

Author

Michael Larson
August 24, 2023

On Love:

Backpacking trip earlier this summer at Baker Lake, WA

“Relationships are the vehicle that will allow us both to improve our lives and to build things that will outlive us. If we manage to do this in meaningful ways, the question ‘Is this all there is?’ will be reserved for those times we pull out the last quart of ice cream and it feels far too light.”

Dr. Robert Waldinger & Dr. March Schulz - The Good Life

On Justice:

I want you to picture these three people in your mind:

  1. This person was taught how to play golf by his grandpa. As a kid they went to summer camp almost every year. This person was a three-sport athlete in high school. They went to a private school for college.

  2. This person grew up in the foster care system. They listen to rap music as one of their most listened to genres. They have a passion for playing basketball. They love to dance and even know a few breakdance moves.

  3. This person enjoys singing in the car when no one is around. Is an artist whose work has been featured in an art festival. A writer who has ambitions for writing a book someday and this person listens to Christian worship music in the morning while making breakfast.

What do you picture them looking like? Do you know people who may embody these various identities and who fit these criteria?

Now what if I told you that each of these people are actually me. This is my story and the different parts of my identity and personality. I grew up in the foster care system and my grandpa taught me how to golf. I love listening to rap music (lots of Kendrick Lamar lately) and love singing in the car when nobody is watching. I grew up going to YoungLife and student leadership summer camps and my photography work has been featured in an art festival.

This short activity demonstrates how biases and stereotypes function. We are given a limited number of facts and our brains fill in the rest. We never know someone's full story until we’re actually exposed to their whole story. Each person is unique in their own ways, let’s make sure we allow them to be.

On Generosity:

“No one has ever become poor from giving.”

Anne Frank

A question for the day:

  • Picture your past self. What would they think about the person you’ve become? Picture your future self. Who do you want to become and how are you going to get there?

Resource of the Week:

A movie about war, peace, and the future of humankind. It’s also my favorite Christopher Nolan movie he has directed.

If you know of anyone who might be interested in taking this journey towards more Love, more Justice, and more Generosity in their own life and in the world, please send them this link which will allow them to sign up (or copy and send: https://ljg.beehiiv.com/subscribe).

Thank you for being here.

With Love, Justice, and Generosity,

Michael LarsonJusti