Thanks for Sharing, America!?

 One of the most basic behaviors we learn as young children is to share. The idea of fairness, offering to give some of what we have, and even simple compromise – benefits all of us throughout life. If we are fortunate to have been diligently educated or even roughly socialized, we still grow to decipher some measure of what, how, when, where, and with whom to share. 


Context plays a large role in a particularly meaningful share, one that may well satisfy both the giver and the recipient. Allow me to address three specific kinds of sharing that could define us as Americans: sharing tangible resources, sharing our ideas/opinions, and sharing one’s individual time with others.

 

According to the World Giving Index, an annual report by the Charities Aid Foundation, The United States has been the most generous nation in donations for the last decade. We have a lot of current challenges, but our altruistic goodwill has remained! 

 

We monetarily support our Houses of Worship and the distribution of care they provide. We step up with funds for victims of crime and natural catastrophes. We even help our government to act to defend countries around the world against forces of evil. These federal funds aren’t directly from our personal discretionary income; monies accumulated through taxation indirectly provide the help. Empathetically, most of us are okay with sharing our collective abundance. 

 

Americans knowingly opt to raid our personal savings to back our community’s worthwhile projects. The success of online Go-Fund-Me type campaigns speaks to our innate sense of responsibility to help various causes and grassroots ideas. It’s clear; it is an American trait to share some of what our revered capitalism helps us gain! 

 

As affluent people (by any standard), some would argue it is only because we have the means to share that we give so much. Yet most of our citizens do this of our own free will despite socioeconomic levels. Sometimes it is good to remind ourselves that despite the lopsided distribution of wealth, there are simple tenets of decency and ethics that many Americans abide by to promote inclusivity and stronger communities by sharing the almighty dollar!

 

 

 

The sharing of narratives, theories, and opinions is at an all-time high in our country too. In 2022, there will be around 31.7 million bloggers in the United States. Internet Live Stats credits the COVID-19 pandemic with allowing time for half of these scribes to produce more content and attract more traffic than ever before. (Hello to all my new friends!).

Seventy-Seven percent of us read these blogs, according to WordPress. Sharing on today’s common social media platforms is commonplace for all of us because it is easier than ever. We all apparently have our two cents to add! Personally, I love to glom on to all the self-help and cool hack posts as well as Wikipedia offerings to gain shared knowledge from others.

 

I believe most sharing is according to the rules of “polite society.” These are not indeed rules per se, but norms that will vary within families, communities, and cultures throughout our great nation. This massive type of sharing isn’t often held to any real restraint as were/are traditional modes of conveyance such as printed or visual matter. Some sharing’s content and slant will test some of our individual boundaries. 

 

Our open society and constitution allow all kinds of content, and I believe that overall we are stronger for the debate that differing opinions/ideas promote. We all know that some of our current societal polarization may well have started or been fed by this unfettered storm of shared words. When it comes to sharing one’s thoughts, the information age has ramped up more and varied ideologies. TMI? It’s up to all of us, individually, to decide the merit of what is being shared. What is more freely democratic (American) than that? If the demand for any type of sharing on line is there, the supply will continue to increase!

“If we want to live in a country that shows improvement, I believe we must be our brother’s keeper.”

 Roughly twenty-five percent of Americans share themselves and their time helping others. Unlike other types of sharing, this number is down from the height of volunteerism in the mid-2000s (almost 29%). As calculated by Changing America, burnout and Covid-19 have likewise created 500,000 fewer teachers in the United States. Teachers are our professional sharers! What is likely the most crucial type of sharing, being truly present for others, is facing a sad decline! 

 

As America struggles with violent events, mental health issues, and societal blight, the need for the personal touch of educating, caring and guiding is sacrosanct! We seem to be at a national crossroads. If we want to live in a country that shows improvement, I believe we must be our brother’s keeper. Plus, those who share by giving of themselves find the effort surprisingly rewarding – an unexpected return on investment of satisfaction and perspective. Perspectives that may help curb ideological extremism and help us all come together. Let’s instruct our children to share some of their lunchtime at school sitting with the class introvert. 

 

Here is an idea, how about inviting at-risk youth to share your rural bungalow or cottage property for a wholesome recreational week to teach outdoor skills and fellowship? Yes, I am obligated to always give a nod to my sponsor but seriously, we all can do more! Many organizations like Big Brothers/Big Sisters and Teach for America forge hope for societal improvement. 

 

We need all Americans to join in somewhere in some capacity to help share best practices. This sharing of our time to grow healthy, civic-minded individuals will propagate to limit our country’s challenges. Let’s agree to reverse this sliding trend by electing to share our time whenever possible. By getting involved with the unfortunate, the disenfranchised, and the vulnerable, Americans can have a more significant impact on beneficial change than can ever be realized by sharing money or our views. Let me be clear: keep up the sharing of donations and the proliferation of thoughts. Yet now more than ever, we must begin to raise the number of us offering the best of ourselves in person. You all witness the same news that I do, it is vital! 

 

Thanks for allowing me to share, America!!

 

JAH

Share:

Facebook
Pinterest
Email
Print
John A. Hughes

John A. Hughes

John Hughes hails from Wilmington, Delaware. He has lived throughout the Mid-Atlantic and New England in his 35 years working in the Commercial Furniture Industry. He remains an active parent of 2 children in their twenties and enjoys running and golfing.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top

Get The Newsletter

By subscribing you are agreeing to our Terms and Conditions & Privacy Policy

Laird Bunch

Laird is our B&C local expert agent for Delaware, Maryland and Southern PA.

Will Flannigan

Will covers the East Los Angeles Market for Bungalows Cottages. 

Expert Agent Connect

Connect with your local B&C expert to find, understand, and secure your next dream home. We’re here!

Or Call our Call Center at 941-275-2630

*By proceeding, you consent to receive communication at the
number you provided, and email, from bungalowsandcottages.com and
real estate professionals and their network of service providers about
your inquiry and other home-related matters. Msg/data rates may
apply. This consent applies even if you are on a do not call list and is not
a condition of any purchase.

Dakota Feroleto

Dakota covers the Southern California Desert Region for Bungalows and Cottages which includes Palm Springs, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, Indian Wells, and La Quinta.

Ken Riel

Ken covers the Charlotte North Carolina Market for Bungalows and Cottages which includes Plaza Midwood, Elizabeth, Chantilly, Wesley Heights, Dilworth, NoDa, and Wilmore.

Karen Barks

Karen covers the Portland Oregon Market for Bungalows and Cottages from Beaverton and West Portland to the North and Northeast neighborhoods.

Chris Zoller

Chris covers the Tamp Florida Market for Bungalows and Cottages from Hyde Park, to Ybor, Seminole Heights, Historic Kenwood, and all around town.

Contact Chris:
941-275-2630
chris@whttampa.com
or Send A Note:

By sending you are agreeing to our Terms and Conditions & Privacy Policy

Jen Berbas

Jen covers the Austin Texas Market for Bungalows and Cottages from Downtown, to Old West Austin, Chestnut, Travis Heights, Rosedale, and all around town.

Mark Hughes

Mark covers the Los Angeles Market for Bungalows Cottages. Mark also serves as the liaison to the B&C Expert Partner Agent Network.  He loves Bungalows and Cottages!

Contact Mark: Call Center
818-480-2864
mark@bungalowsandcottages.com
or Send A Note...

By sending you are agreeing to our Terms and Conditions & Privacy Policy

Peggy Graef

Peggy covers the Orlando Florida Market for Bungalows and Cottages from Colonialtown, and College Park to Winterpark, and Thornton, and all around town.

Mike Dobbs

Mike covers the West Side Los Angeles Market for Bungalows and Cottages.

Steven Lambert

Steven is our B&C local expert agent for the Tri-Cities in Washington.

Amanda Rose

GA Lic#243859

Amanda covers the Atlanta Market for Bungalows & Cottages. 

Thomson Meeks

Thomson covers the Asheville Market for Bungalows Cottages.

Contact Thomson: Call Center
818-480-2864
or Send A Note...

By sending you are agreeing to our Terms and Conditions & Privacy Policy

Submit Your BnB

Fill in your BnB details and we’ll review it for addition to our growing map of Bungalow and Cottages BnB’s.

*By sending you are agreeing to our Terms and Conditions & Privacy Policy.

Shannon Praetorius

Shannon covers the Seattle Market for Bungalows Cottages. Connect with Shannon here to find your best B&C Market guidance.

Contact Shannon: Call Center
941-275-2630
or Send A Note...

By sending you are agreeing to our Terms and Conditions & Privacy Policy

Anne Jensen

Anne covers the Los Angeles Market for Bungalows and Cottages along the south city side and LA’s southern coastal areas.

Contact Anne:
Call Center 818-480-2864
or Send A Note...

By sending you are agreeing to our Terms and Conditions & Privacy Policy

Judy Hughes

Judy Hughes is a Orange County, CA sales expert and accomplished renovation consultant.

Call or text Judy at 562-972-0491
or send a note...

By sending you are agreeing to our Terms and Conditions & Privacy Policy

Kathy Engen

Kathy is our B&C local expert agent for Edina MN.

John Staab

John is the Managing Broker and accomplished real estate consultant for Motive Real Estate Fort Worth Texas. Lic #0525982

Ken Farah

Ken covers the San Diego County Region for Bungalows and Cottages.

Alex Fotouhi

Alex is our B&C local expert agent for Seattle Washington.

Agent Lead and Referral Network

Realtors® Fill in your details to join our growing exclusive B&C Lead and Referral Network and we’ll get back to right away.

*By sending you are agreeing to our Terms and Conditions & Privacy Policy.