…I think it’s quite tragic.
Mum’s parts could help others,
And I think that that’s magic!
from Freddie and the Magic Heart
written by Mark James
illustrated by Lulu McWilliams
Grosvenor House Publishing Ltd., 2023
(accessed on Hoopla through my library’s website 12/22/24)
When I renewed my driver’s license, I also renewed the checkbox for organ donor. If my parts are good enough when my days are done, other lives can be saved.
It’s that simple.
I don’t think of myself as more selfless, more generous, or more altruistic than anyone else, really. I think most of us go around this earth the best way we can and do for others when and how we’re able.
But some of us are heroes. Some of us are just better do-ers and better thinkers. They recognize the right choice and just do it.
A core tenet of Judaism is gemilut hasadim, usually translated as “acts of lovingkindness.” Gemilut are actions done with reciprocity in mind and are valuable to everyone involved. Hesed (pluralized as Hasadim) is usually translated as “human kindness.”
Rashi, a medieval commentator on Torah (the Five Books of Moses, including writings and commentaries on them) explained it this way in My Jewish Learning. “Hesed is when you give your heart and mind to the well-being of the [other] person…and when the command to ‘love your neighbor as yourself’ is fulfilled.”
Brain research has recently discovered the science behind why some of us are more prone to extreme kindness than others.
Abigail March is a neuroscientist and an associate professor in the neuroscience program at Georgetown University. She studies the brains of adults and adolescents to determine the differences that exist between people who have done altruistic acts (donating a kidney to a stranger, for example) and those labeled as having “severe conduct problems and limited empathy.”
She found, and others have since corroborated, the amygdalas of altruists are larger and more active than those of psychopaths, their sociological opposites. The amygdala is the part of our brain that notices and reacts to emotions, especially fear. If we don’t recognize fear in others, we won’t be moved to help. Dr. Marsh would probably agree that It’s a lack of compassion more than an evil desire to do harm that stops someone from intervening in a dangerous situation.
The opposite is also true. In her TED talk (September, 2016), Marsh defines altruism as “a voluntary, costly behavior motivated by the desire to help another individual.”
She also claims that people are fundamentally compassionate. In our society, as we become more financially secure, we are better able to extend ourselves.
We also see more suffering. Altruism, like most human qualities, is found on a continuum. One end is anchored in selfishness, the other in altruism. Most of us fall into the vast middle. We donate time in food pantries, animal shelters, hospitals… or donate funds to help alleviate the suffering we see.
Matthieu Ricard, a happiness researcher and a Buddhist monk, tells us that goodness is banal. It is common, obvious, and boring. We don’t pay attention to goodness, but we all agree with his comment when we notice that murder, theft, and other bad news get the attention of news reporters, whether in print, on air, or online (whether true or not).
This is the season of gift-giving. While most of us will not give a kidney or lung or run into traffic to save someone’s life, I think most of us are doing the best we can.
When I looked up altruist in Thesaurus.com, I found contributor, philanthropist, promotor, humanitarian, and well-wisher among others.
Selflessness is related to benevolence and kindness.
And generosity is linked to hospitality, benevolence (again), largesse, high-mindedness, and open-handedness.
Do-gooders, all, to be sure, but giving does not have to be materialistic. Many of the most meaningful gifts involve kindness, compassion, and our time.
According to St. Augustine, altruism (the act of doing for others) is the quality in humans that makes us like angels.
I finished reading Demon Copperhead and agree with everything I said last week. Although I’d love to spend the time to read David Copperfield for comparison, wow, so many books, so little time has become my mantra.
Be curious! (and grateful)
Mum’s parts could help others,
And I think that that’s magic!
from Freddie and the Magic Heart
written by Mark James
illustrated by Lulu McWilliams
Grosvenor House Publishing Ltd., 2023
(accessed on Hoopla through my library’s website 12/22/24)
When I renewed my driver’s license, I also renewed the checkbox for organ donor. If my parts are good enough when my days are done, other lives can be saved.
It’s that simple.
I don’t think of myself as more selfless, more generous, or more altruistic than anyone else, really. I think most of us go around this earth the best way we can and do for others when and how we’re able.
But some of us are heroes. Some of us are just better do-ers and better thinkers. They recognize the right choice and just do it.
A core tenet of Judaism is gemilut hasadim, usually translated as “acts of lovingkindness.” Gemilut are actions done with reciprocity in mind and are valuable to everyone involved. Hesed (pluralized as Hasadim) is usually translated as “human kindness.”
Rashi, a medieval commentator on Torah (the Five Books of Moses, including writings and commentaries on them) explained it this way in My Jewish Learning. “Hesed is when you give your heart and mind to the well-being of the [other] person…and when the command to ‘love your neighbor as yourself’ is fulfilled.”
Brain research has recently discovered the science behind why some of us are more prone to extreme kindness than others.
Abigail March is a neuroscientist and an associate professor in the neuroscience program at Georgetown University. She studies the brains of adults and adolescents to determine the differences that exist between people who have done altruistic acts (donating a kidney to a stranger, for example) and those labeled as having “severe conduct problems and limited empathy.”
She found, and others have since corroborated, the amygdalas of altruists are larger and more active than those of psychopaths, their sociological opposites. The amygdala is the part of our brain that notices and reacts to emotions, especially fear. If we don’t recognize fear in others, we won’t be moved to help. Dr. Marsh would probably agree that It’s a lack of compassion more than an evil desire to do harm that stops someone from intervening in a dangerous situation.
The opposite is also true. In her TED talk (September, 2016), Marsh defines altruism as “a voluntary, costly behavior motivated by the desire to help another individual.”
She also claims that people are fundamentally compassionate. In our society, as we become more financially secure, we are better able to extend ourselves.
We also see more suffering. Altruism, like most human qualities, is found on a continuum. One end is anchored in selfishness, the other in altruism. Most of us fall into the vast middle. We donate time in food pantries, animal shelters, hospitals… or donate funds to help alleviate the suffering we see.
Matthieu Ricard, a happiness researcher and a Buddhist monk, tells us that goodness is banal. It is common, obvious, and boring. We don’t pay attention to goodness, but we all agree with his comment when we notice that murder, theft, and other bad news get the attention of news reporters, whether in print, on air, or online (whether true or not).
This is the season of gift-giving. While most of us will not give a kidney or lung or run into traffic to save someone’s life, I think most of us are doing the best we can.
When I looked up altruist in Thesaurus.com, I found contributor, philanthropist, promotor, humanitarian, and well-wisher among others.
Selflessness is related to benevolence and kindness.
And generosity is linked to hospitality, benevolence (again), largesse, high-mindedness, and open-handedness.
Do-gooders, all, to be sure, but giving does not have to be materialistic. Many of the most meaningful gifts involve kindness, compassion, and our time.
According to St. Augustine, altruism (the act of doing for others) is the quality in humans that makes us like angels.
I finished reading Demon Copperhead and agree with everything I said last week. Although I’d love to spend the time to read David Copperfield for comparison, wow, so many books, so little time has become my mantra.
Be curious! (and grateful)
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