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WHEN JEALOUSY WANTS EXCLUSIVE BENEFITS

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Some people admire a generous man right up until he is generous to somebody else. He helps his sister: there’s a problem. He buys something for his children: there are questions. He supports a friend: suddenly, there needs to be a parliamentary inquiry into where the money went. But when the generosity comes in their direction? “What a beautiful heart you have, baby.” Apparently, the heart is beautiful only when the payment is addressed correctly. What exactly are you afraid of losing? That is the question worth asking when jealousy takes over a relationship. Are you afraid of losing the person—the conversations, companionship, affection and life you share? Or are you afraid of losing the bills paid, gifts received, errands handled and emergencies solved? Those losses can overlap. Someone can love a partner and still behave selfishly. Jealousy alone cannot tell us what is in another person’s heart. But watch what consistently gets their attention. If your exhaustion barely ...

THE DOLLAR MAY NOT HAVE DEVALUED, BUT OUR MONEY CERTAINLY HAS!

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When the cost of living rises faster than our earnings, does the technical definition really matter? Everybody seems to be talking about the dollar these days. Some are calling it devaluation. Others are calling it inflation. The economists have their explanations, the politicians have their talking points, and the financial experts have their charts and statistics. But while everyone is busy debating what to call it, ordinary people are standing in supermarkets wondering how a bag of groceries that once lasted a week can now barely last three days. And that is where I have a problem. Because whether you call it inflation, currency depreciation, dollar devaluation, or the rising cost of living, the reality is that our money is losing its purchasing power. And no amount of fancy economic terminology is going to change what happens at the cash register. When Did Simply Living Become So Expensive? Think about it. Food is not a luxury. Electricity is not a luxury. Water is not ...