25/12/2025
Thoughtful gifting ππ€β¨οΈ
Here is an illustration of the problem with the Golden Rule (to treat others the same way we want to be treated). The Golden Rule is well-intentioned, but it is short-sighted and out-dated.
The Platinum Rule, on the other hand: treating others the way THEY want to be treated, accounts for our differences, takes other people into consideration, and acknowledges that we don't all like or want the same things.
In this illustration, if the dog had followed the Golden Rule, he would have gifted the cat a bone or a chew toy. But, a mindful gift does NOT treat others the way we want to be treated, it invites us to remove our personal preferences from the equation altogether, and take others into consideration.
This isn't about gifts, cats, or dogs, of course, my intention is remind you (and myself) that making assumptions about other people based on our limited world view is narrow-minded and often wrong. Let's do the vulnerable and compassionate thing, remove ourselves from the center of the Universe, and put others there instead. π