“We profit by such giving” (ODAT, 24 July)
What is giving?
The deployment of my time, populated with knowledge,
experience, and rational thought, to good purpose.
What is the profit?
One starts to notice the indirect effects of the behaviour of the alcoholic, the addict, the crazy person on one’s peace of mind; one starts to see how it is one’s mind that is creating these indirect effects; one starts to learn how to alter that reaction; one recognises that the maintenance of mental boundaries has a cost; and eventually one realises that there is another way to live: one need not make the effort to constantly reframe and repackage the incoming data; one might, perhaps, choose not to interact at all with the alcoholic, the addict, the crazy person, the crazy environment. After all, when the CODB (cost of doing business) is too high, why not shop more economically elsewhere? I can indeed handle such situations. But need I, if there is an alternative?