Quote Originally Posted by gypski
No, I do it because I am selfish and it makes me feel good. I also know that the effects of this work pay off in networking contacts and good will from those whom I have helped.


Going back and rereading this line, it makes me think a person does the soup kitchen thing because they are selfless, not selfish. Especially if one is above the fray so to speak in the socieo-economic strata. Maybe I'm nuts, but I do things for the experience regardless of outcome in the broad sense. Some times, we enter into things knowing any possible outcome can arise believing one way, while those others may be going entirely in a different direction or for a different result. Everything I do has a reason, and I can't say selfish, a survival aspect...but also a selfless aspect. It brings to mind the Serenity Prayer, and things one can and can't control. :jointsmile:
not to quibble, but since everything you do has a reason... this is indeed selfish and indeed very analytical. You have made the choice to do things because you see a need to do them... and this is your personal evaluation and decision. If we throw out ego, a lot of times we can see that even though we like to think that something is selfless and altruistic, it is actually our own selfish desires for satisfaction that drive us to do it. Not that this is a bad thing, but it helps to focus sometimes to see the real motivator in our lives.

Emmie