The Rich Are Not Interested In Creating Jobs

Subject to edits/revision:

The rich are NOT interested in creating jobs, they're interested in making money.

The rich make money in two ways:
1. Raise prices.
2. Cut costs (labour is a big part of costs, so are taxes).

In the United States of America (USA), rich land owners used African slaves (free labour) to make money. Then came emancipation (the end of slavery). Costs went up and profits went down.

The rich then exploited workers, offering poor wages, few benefits and deplorable working conditions. Then came unions. Costs went up and profits went down.

The rich then moved production overseas to exploit cheap labour there, offering poor wages, few benefits and deplorable working conditions. The American worker at home was left without a job.

The rich aren't interested in creating jobs, they're interested in making money.

I'm Geosensitive and Worldsensitive/Sociosensitive

Updated Jan 15, 2018

Subject to edits/revisions:

I'm geosensitive and worldsensitive/sociosensitive.

I'm geosensitive, meaning I can sense or "feel" the personality of different locations on the earth, more specifically, I can sense or "feel" the forces that govern the different locations on the earth. ["Geo" means "earth" and "sensitive" means "sensing", therefore "geosensitive" means "to sense the earth".] It's not just a Powell River (BC, Canada) thing, it's a worldwide thing, because I was geosensitive even when I was in Israel, the West Bank, Jordan and England in 2015 (and other locations at other times, e.g. the USA and others places in Canada). Different locations "feel" different, meaning, they're governed by different forces/personalities. The forces/personality of any given location can change, meaning it "feels" different than it did before. Being geosensitive is not related to having people around, because I'm geosensitive even when there's nobody around. Being geosensitive is a phenomenon of the quality of bestowal.

I'm worldsensitive, meaning I can sense the different worlds that are governed by different laws. These worlds manifest in the social environment, which means I'm sociosensitive. Being worldsensitive/sociosensitive is a phenomenon of the quality of bestowal.

In everything we do, we should seek to benefit others/Nature instead of ourselves.

Copyright © 2017. Carter Kagume. All Rights Reserved.

Living In My Car

Updated Apr 24, 2024.

WORK IN PROGRESS:
This post is a work in progress and is subject to changes, revisions, edits and deletions.

For various reasons, I started living in my car on January 4, 2016, and did so for about 11 months, until the middle of November 2016, when I moved into a small single room, which is where I stay today.

I consider my time living in my car as permanent camping. Sometimes, I was in a campsite (some have full amenities such as water, electricity, flush toilets, showers, laundry, Wi-Fi, garbage, recycling; others have limited amenities such as only water and outhouse toilets). [Campground daily fees can be cheaper for longer stays, depending on the campground. They also tend to be cheaper in the winter, when there are fewer campers. Fees tend to be all inclusive, which means no additional bills (except for one's personal cell phone and the coin operated showers and laundry), ideal for someone on a budget. If a campground's fees were within my monthly accommodation budget, I'd stay there all month. If the monthly fees were more than I could afford, I'd calculate how many days I could stay there, then spend the rest of the days elsewhere.] Other times I was in a parking lot or other public space with no amenities at all, in which case I'd seek out various establishments to find the amenities I needed.

When you're living in your car, you can't just park anywhere, because you may make nearby residents nervous as they wonder what you're doing there, and they may call the police to check up on you. I'd try and find a location where I was close to amenities, but wasn't in anybody's way.

Before I started living in my car, I did research on "winter car camping" to prepare myself for what to expect. Being prepared helped a lot ... and there were a few things I learned along the way. The purpose of this post is to share my experiences and let you know what I learned.

I'm not the only person who's lived/camped in my car. I've met a few people living in tents, cars, minivans, camper vans, motorhomes, fifth wheel trailers etc. Also, there are many people around the world who live in their cars, on the streets, in shelters, in refugee camps and in slums.

There are pros and cons to living in a car. One big advantage is that I could park in a location with a beautiful view. Also, being mobile means I could move whenever I wanted to, have a new view whenever I wanted to. Living in a car forces a person to keep things simple, and there's something freeing about living a simple life. The biggest disadvantage is the inconvenience of not having readily available amenities that are easily accessible, most importantly a bathroom and heat (in the winter), but also water, electricity, showers, internet/Wi-Fi and other amenities.

I'm not encouraging people to live in their cars, not at all; it's not for everybody. What I am saying is that if you find yourself in a situation where you have few choices, or none at all, living in your car is an option. It's not easy, it's tricky, but a person can make it work.

I learned two key things:

1. I don't need a lot of stuff:
• I simplified my life considerably before I moved into my car. I got rid of a lot of things, things I thought I needed, turns out I don't, and I don't even miss them. Some went to the thrift store, some became garbage and some I burned (documents, papers and files). With no personal possessions in storage or elsewhere, everything I owned was in my car.
• Now, I focus on my basic needs: Food, water, clothing and shelter. I live with very little and I appreciate the little that I have. 
2. I don't need a lot of space:
• From January 4, 2016 to May 16, 2016, I lived in my car, a Saturn SL1. It was small, space was tight, but I made it work. I traded it in for a 1998/1999 second hand Dodge Caravan Minivan, which I lived in from May 16, 2016 to the middle of November 2016. The minivan gave me a lot more room. Now I live in a single room that has a bed, toilet, shower, fridge and baseboard heating.

Here are my notes about living in my car, focusing on my basic needs: Food, water, clothing and shelter:

1. FOOD
I bought food that I didn't need to cook, such as bread, rice cakes, peanut butter, fresh vegetables (e.g. cucumbers and tomatoes), fresh fruit, dried fruit, canned foods, nuts, cookies, chips/salsa etc. I had a kettle, and with access to electricity, such as at a campsite, I could eat food that only needed hot water, such as instant noodles. I also had a rice cooker, so I could make rice or stews that would last a few days, or I'd use the rice cooker to heat up canned foods. I'd go grocery shopping about once a week, or as needed. I didn't have a fridge or cooler, which limited the kinds of foods I could keep. In the winter, it got cold enough that I could use the trunk of the Saturn as a fridge and food would keep for longer. In the summer, without a fridge or cooler, the food would spoil much faster. Once in a while I'd be invited out for a meal or get take out that would last a few days. Even though it was suggested to me, I never used gas to cook, due to my own personal comfort level. WARNING: Keeping food in your car may attract bears or other animals. Be mindful.

Establishing a routine also helped because habit becomes second nature. Once I established my breakfast, lunch and dinner routines, and my morning, afternoon and evening routines, I didn't have to think about it, I knew what I needed to do.

Supplies: Food, tupperware (as dishes), spoon, fork, knife, can opener, scissors, dish towel, paper towels, dish soap, scrubbing sponge, rice cooker, extension cord etc.

Food Supplies

Food Utensils

Cooking Stew In A Rice Cooker

In The Winter, The Trunk Of The Car Would Get Cold Enough, I'd Use It As A Fridge

To Store Food, Which I Could Access From The Back Seat

2. WATER
I'd keep about 12 litres of water in the car (3 x 4L jugs) and refill them when I needed to. There's water at campgrounds, gas stations (ask the gas station attendants if the water is clean and drinkable) etc. To keep hydrated, I'd drink water, juice or hot drinks. I'd use the kettle to boil water (for hot drinks, to fill the thermos and to fill the hot water bottle). Sometimes, I'd fill up my thermos and hot water bottle with hot water at convenience stores (if you ask nicely, they'll give you hot water for free). To keep the hot water in my thermos hotter for longer, I'd wrap it in a blanket. This worked really well, especially in winter.

Supplies: Water, 3 X 4 litre jugs (to store water), kettle, thermos, travel mug, water bottle etc.

Water Source At A Private Campground

Water Source At A Provincial Campground

Water Source At A Gas Station.
(Ask the gas station attendants if the water is clean and drinkable.)

Boiling Water In The Kettle - For Hot Drinks, The Thermos and The Hot Water Bottle

Thermos To Store Hot Water.
(To keep the hot water hotter for longer, I'd wrap the thermos in a blanket.
This worked really well, especially in winter.)

3. CLOTHING
My clothes are very basic and I have enough clothes to last about a week (which means I'd do laundry about once a week because I'd run out of clean clothes). I didn't have pajamas, I'd sleep in my clothes, which made it easier to get in and out of the car, or to move the car at any time of the day or night. I tried to make sure my clothes were loose fitting, at least comfortable enough to sleep in. For cleanliness and comfort, I'd take my shoes off in the car and found that slip on shoes (not shoes with laces) were the easiest to take on and off, especially when I was in and out of the car a lot.

In the winter (Canadian winters can get very cold), I'd wear warm clothes (hat, gloves, scarf, jacket, fleece, warm tops, pants, thick socks etc.) and layer (layering clothes helps keep a person warmer). In the summer, I'd shed the layers to keep cool.

Supplies: Clothes, laundry detergent, needle and thread (to mend basic tears or fix a loose button), scissors etc.

Clothes Stored In A Duffle Bag In The Trunk Of The Car

4. SHELTER

Car
My car was my shelter and the amenities (such as water, electricity, shower, laundry, bathroom, internet/Wi-Fi and garbage) were either in the campgrounds or at other locations (more details below).

Car Maintenance
The car required general maintenance to ensure it was running smoothly. I'd take it to the mechanic as needed. I had a few car supplies (such as engine oil, windshield washer fluid etc.) and I'd top up from time to time. I'd check the tire pressure once in a while, wash the outside of the car as needed, and vacuum and clean the inside of the car more regularly. I had a small broom and dustpan that I'd use to sweep the inside of the car if it need it. I had a small tool set, which I'd use to tighten any loose screws. Lastly, I had duct tape, which comes in handy for many things.

Supplies: Engine oil, windshield washer fluid, tire pressure gauge, rags, broom and dustpan, tool kit, duct tape, window ice scraper etc.

Tool Kit And Duct Tape

Sleeping/ Space / Storage
In a small vehicle, every space counts and keeping things neat, tidy and orderly helps. I created spaces within the vehicle to serve various purposes and to make it possible to access everyday items easily. For example, in the Saturn, the back seat was my bed, the front passenger seat and floor space was for food, water and recycling, the driver side back seat floor space was for shoes and garbage, the passenger side back seat floor space was an office (files, laptop etc.), the trunk was for clothes, food, car supplies, toiletries and other supplies. To create more room in the back seat, I'd move the driver and passenger seats all the way forward and tilt their back rests forward. In the Saturn, when I was lying down in the back seat, my legs were almost always bent at the knees (because I'm taller than the car is wide), so to try and stretch them out, my feet would end up behind the front seats, up on to the front seat door arm rest. Sometimes, I'd put down the back rest of the back seat (which accessed the trunk) and I'd sleep on it with my feet in the trunk. This gave me more leg room and the ability to stretch out, but it was too cold to do in the winter.

In the minivan, I had more room. I took out the middle row of seats and the back seat flattened down to make a bed. I'd still have to curl up on the bed in a v-shape, or in the fetal position, or diagonally across the bed and sometimes with my feet resting on a tote that was beside the bed. I used totes to store my stuff and had a space for clothes, a space for food and kitchen supplies, an office space etc. The front passenger seat was for jackets and food. The front passenger floor space was for recycling. The space under the bed (the flattened back seat) was for garbage, car supplies and other supplies.

Supplies: Sleeping bag, blankets, pillow and pillow cases, totes, bags etc.

The Back Seat Of The Car Used As A Bed

Passenger Front Seat And Floor Space Used To Store Food And Water.
The Windshield Window Ledge Used For The Ceramic Space Heater

Driver Side Rear Floor Space Used For Shoes And Garbage. (For cleanliness and comfort,
I'd take my shoes off in the car and found that slip on shoes (not shoes with laces)
were the easiest to take on and off.)

Passenger Side Rear Floor Space Used As An Office (Laptop, Files etc.)

Rear View Window Ledge Used To Store A Few Items

Keeping Warm / Heat Source
In the winter, it's all about keeping warm because Canadian winters can get to well below zero degrees Celsius, so it's important to think about a heat source:

• I'd wear warm clothes (hat, gloves, scarf, jacket, fleece, pants, warm tops, thick socks etc.).
• I used a hot water bottle and hand warmers (which I could stick inside my pockets, feet or gloves and they'd keep warm for about 8 hours). WARNING: Hot water bottles can burn as they can get extremely hot and they may tear unexpectedly, therefore use with caution and as directed by the manufacturer. Hand warmers can also burn as they can get extremely hot, therefore use with caution and as directed by the manufacturer.
• I had a warm sleeping bag and blankets.
• I'd eat hot food, hot soups and drink hot drinks. I'd boil hot water and put it in the thermos, then wrap the thermos in a blanket to keep it hotter for longer.
• With access to electricity, I'd use a ceramic space heater. WARNING: Space heaters are a fire hazard. I bought one that turns off automatically if it tips over, and I'd make sure it was away from anything that could catch fire. I placed in on the windshield window ledge.
• A little bit of sun on a cold winter day can help warm up a car, so I'd park in the sun to keep warm. WARNING: Cars tend to overheat very easily and temperatures inside a car can get to 20 degrees Celsius higher than temperatures outside the car.
• If I didn't have access to electricity, I could run the car for a while to warm up, or if I had to run errands, the car would warm up, which means I'd warm up. WARNING: Due to the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, it's dangerous to run a vehicle in a closed space or poorly ventilated area, always ensure a running vehicle is in a well ventilated area.

Supplies: Warm clothes, space heater, extension cord, hot water bottle, hand warmers, sleeping bag, blanket, hot food, hot soups, hot drinks etc.

Keeping Warm In A Car - Warm Clothes, Space Heater, Hot Food and Drinks
Hot Water Bottle, Hand Warmers, Warm Sleeping Bag, Blankets

Hand Warmers To Keep Warm

Keeping Warm With An Electric Ceramic Space Heater
Placed On The Windshield Window Ledge.
(I bought one that turns off automatically if it tips over.)

Keeping Cool
In the summer, it's all about keeping cool. (WARNING: Cars tend to overheat very easily on a hot day and temperatures inside a car can get to 20 degrees Celsius higher than temperatures outside the car.) I found that the easiest thing to do was to park in the shade of a tree because moisture from the trees keeps the area cooler, than say being in the shade of a building, but that works too. I tried using a tarp to provide shade, but had to deal with the setup and dismantling procedure.

It's important to stay hydrated on a hot day, so I'd drink lots of liquids. It's also important to be mindful of the effects of the sun on the skin, so I'd use sunscreen and a baseball cap as needed.

Supplies: Drinking water, sunscreen, baseball cap etc.

Parked In A Treed Shady Spot In A Provincial Campground

A Tarp And Other Supplies For Shade

Condensation
Condensation (the build up of moisture, humidity, water vapour in the vehicle) can be a big problem in a small car space, the big concern being that condensation can lead to mold.

To reduce the amount of condensation in the vehicle, here's what I did:

• I kept a window cracked open about an inch. With the window slightly open, there'd be the chance that rain would get inside the car, adding to the condensation buildup, so it was important to try and keep the rain out. The Saturn didn't have side window deflectors to keep the rain and wind out, so, when it was raining, I put a cardboard sheet on the roof of the car to cover the window, and I held it in place with medium sized rocks. The minivan has side window deflectors that keep the rain and wind out. If it got REALLY cold, I'd use my discretion about whether or not to keep the window cracked open at all.
• I boiled the kettle and cooked food outside of the car, not inside the car, to prevent the buildup of condensation inside the car. WARNING: There's a risk of electric shock when using electric appliances/devices in the rain. I'd try and find and use a covered sheltered space to keep dry and to keep all my electric appliances dry.
• I'd keep all liquids that were in the car sealed, to prevent them from evaporating and adding to the buildup of condensation.
• If it was raining and I had to go outside, I'd try and stay dry, then shake off all excess moisture before I got back into the car. Wet clothes and wet shoes evaporate and add to the buildup of condensation inside the car.
• When possible, after a shower, I'd dry the wet towel outside the car, hanging it on one of the rear view mirrors, or I'd string a rope on two nearby trees and hang it up to dry. A wet towel inside the car evaporates and adds to the buildup of condensation inside the car.
• When condensation built up on the windows, I'd wipe it off with a paper towel or cloth, and squeeze the excess moisture outside of the car. I'd seal the wet paper towel or cloth in a plastic bag to prevent it from evaporating in the car.
• I placed a mini-dehumidifier in the car, which absorbed any excess moisture. They're often used in Recreational Vehicles (RV's) and boats.

Mini-Dehumidifier To Be Placed In The Car To Absorb Any Excess Moisture

Privacy
For privacy, I used "curtains", cut from on old sheet, measured to fit the size of each car window (car windows are different sizes). I used suction cups that stuck to the windows, and clothes pegs to hang the "curtains" on the suction cups, which then covered each window. For privacy from the windshield, I used a larger sheet, which I'd tuck behind the sun visors and drape over the driver and passenger seats.

Supplies: An old sheet measured and cut to size to fit each window to act as "curtains", other pieces of cloth as needed, suction cups, clothes pegs etc.

Privacy Curtains

Privacy Curtain For The Windshield Window, Tucked Behind The Car Sun Visors

Safety
When I was parked in a public space or when I wasn't in my car, I'd keep the "curtains" drawn and/or cover all valuable items to reduce the likelihood that I'd get broken into. If thieves see possessions openly displayed in an unattended parked car, they may be tempted to break in. In the Saturn, I could fit most of my belongings (bedding, electronic devices, food, water etc.) in the trunk of the car, which I'd do from time to time if I needed them out of the way.

I had a money belt, which I used to store my passport, wallet, spare car keys and other small valuable items. I wore it around my waist at all times, even while sleeping. I'd take it off only to shower. I'd use a safety pin to pin the money belt to the inside of my shirt, in case the waist strap latch opened accidentally. (Don't pin a waist money belt to your pants because if you have to go to the bathroom, it'll be pinned to your pants and strapped around your waist, which doesn't work - you'll have to undo the safety pin.) WARNING: A safety pin close to your body may open unexpectedly and poke you. I was careful with the safety pin, pinning it in such a way that it wouldn't open accidentally and prick me. Also, safety pins fastened to clothing/fabric may damage the clothing.

To reduce the likelihood that I'd lock myself out of the car, I had an extra set of car keys in my money belt, which was on me at all times, plus I'd always make sure I had my first set of car keys in my pocket at all times.

I'd make sure my fingers were clear of the doors, especially when I was in and out of the car, opening and closing the doors all the time. Also, I'd make sure there were no clothes, bedding or curtains caught in the doors, hanging out on the outside of the car, otherwise they'd get dirty and/or wet.

When parked, I'd make sure the car headlights were off so I wouldn't accidentally leave them on and drain the car battery. I'd also make sure the car was securely parked so it wouldn't roll away by mistake. If needed, I'd put a rock in front of (or behind) one of the car tires to prevent it from rolling.

If I was parked near the water (i.e. the ocean), I was mindful of high tides, especially during a storm, because the water can get unpredictably high and breach the standard barriers. (WARNING: Worst case scenario, the car may get swept away by rising waters.) During a storm, I'd park away from the water. Also, during a storm or windy conditions, I was mindful of trees as they sometimes fall over, or branches come down. I'd make it a point to be aware of the weather (as conditions can change suddenly) and move to an appropriate location (if need be) to keep safe.

Supplies: Money belt, safety pin, extra set of car keys, weather report etc.

Toilets
Most campgrounds have toilets (flush toilets or pit latrines/outhouses). There are also toilets at convenience stores, grocery stores, coffee shops, gas stations, hotels, the library, the mall, public parks, or at family and friends. If there was a sink, I'd brush my teeth. I used a honey bucket (emergency toilet), which I stored in a plastic bag or a second pale in case of leaks. I'd empty it out once I had access to a toilet or the bushes (since I only ever used it to urinate). WARNING: Due to the bacteria in elimination (especially feces), all appropriate disposal measures should be taken to prevent potential health problems.

Supplies: Toilet paper and other toiletries such as toothbrush and toothpaste.

Flush Toilet At A Private Campground

Outhouse Toilet (Pit Latrine) At A Provincial Campground

Honey Bucket - An Emergency Toilet

Toiletries And Various Supplies

Showers
Some campgrounds have showers. There are also showers at recreational facilities, or at family and friends. Most campgrounds have coin operated showers that cost anywhere from $1 for 7 minutes, to $1 for 3 minutes for a shower. I'd never had a 3 minute shower before, but it's possible. First, you have to get completely ready (meaning ready to step into the shower), know exactly what you need to do, then insert the coin(s) and go for it. Another tip (from Sam Stevenson in Garden Bay): If there is a sink, run the hot water in the sink first, until it's hot, so you don't waste precious shower minutes waiting for the hot water in the shower to turn hot. Otherwise, you'll waste 1 minute of a 3 minute shower waiting for the hot water to get hot. Due to the cost, and since I'm on a budget, I'd shower about twice a week (more as needed), but I'd do tops and tails every day using wet wipes or a face cloth with soap and water (tops being face and armpits; tails being down below). I had a towel that dried easily (as opposed to a super thick towel that would take a while to dry).

Supplies: Towel, hand towel, face cloth, soap, shampoo, wet wipes, flip flops to wear in public showers, other toiletries, coins (quarters, dollars) for the shower meter etc.

Coin Operated Shower At A Private Campground

Laundry
Some campgrounds have coin operated laundry facilities. There are also laundromats, or at family and friends. It helps to keep clean clothes separated from dirty ones. I used a laundry bag for dirty clothes. I'd do laundry about once a week, including pillow cases, dish towel, towel, hand towel, face cloth, rags etc. I'd wash my sleeping bag and blanket about once a month, or sooner if needed.

Supplies: Laundry bag, laundry detergent, coins for the washing and drying machines etc.

Coin Operated Laundry Machines At A Private Campground

Electricity / Light
Some campgrounds have electricity, which is great because I have a few things that need electricity - cell phone, tablet, laptop, kettle, rice cooker, space heater, lamp, flashlight, extension cord etc. When I didn't have access to electricity, access to free, easily available electricity is hard to find. Charging my electronic devices was one of the biggest challenges I found, because I had to charge them every day. I could go to a coffee shop (but I needed to buy a drink) or I could go to the library and sit there for about two hours waiting for my devices to charge, which was difficult to do every day.

At night, if I had electricity, I'd use a small bedside lamp. WARNING: Light bulbs can be a fire hazard as they can get extremely hot. I made sure the lamp was securely in place, wouldn't tip over and was away from anything that could catch fire. If I didn't have electricity, I'd use flashlights or a tiny battery powered camping lamp. In a campground, flashlights are useful at night to go to and from the bathroom. If I wasn't in a campground, I'd park and sleep in a well-lit parking lot, or near a street lamp because the light makes it easier to see at night. Also, in the winter, the area around a lit street lamp can be a little bit warmer than elsewhere because lit street lamps gives off heat. When you're fussing with flashlights and lamps at night, daylight comes as a welcome relief.

If I was plugged into an electrical outlet, I'd make sure the extension cord was unplugged and safely tucked inside the car before driving off.

Supplies: Extension cord, lamp, flashlights, batteries etc.

Electricity At A Private Campground. Beautiful View.

Electronic Devices And Appliances

Using An Extension Cord To Plug In Multiple Electronic Devices

Light Source - Flashlights, Batteries

Internet / Wi-Fi
Some campgrounds have internet/Wi-Fi. If I wasn't in a campground with Wi-Fi, free internet/Wi-Fi is easy to find (unlike free electricity, which is hard to find). There's free internet/Wi-Fi at grocery stores, retail stores, coffee shops, the library, city hall, at family and friends etc. I study online with Israel, about three hours a day, six days a week, (about 18 hours a week). If I had access to Wi-Fi, I'd watch the lessons live via streaming video. If I didn't have access to Wi-Fi, I'd go to a spot with free Wi-Fi, download the lessons to my laptop or tablet and watch them later that day.

Garbage & Recycling
Some campgrounds have garbage disposal and recycling. I'd also go to the garbage disposal and recycling facility in town.

Supplies: Garbage bags, recycling bags etc.

Garbage Disposal At A Private Campground

Other - Entertainment
I spent a lot of my time resting, studying, writing, etc. I have chronic pain and distraction is a form of pain management, so I'd spend time watching movies (DVD's) and other videos. With internet access, I could keep up with the news, watch online entertainment etc. I enjoy bird watching and seeing other wildlife. I'd listen to music. When I could, I'd go for walks. 

Supplies: Videos (e.g. DVD's), music (e.g. MP3's), books etc.

SUMMARY

I never planned on living in my car, it just sort of happened, and when I knew it was going to happen, I did research so I'd be as well prepared as possible. At first, it was hard to do because I'd never done it before and because I didn't know how to do it. It took about a month to settle in and find a routine that worked for me. After that, it was more about refining my living and finding little hacks that made things easier. I met people along the way who gave me suggestions about how to improve the way I was living in my car. I have a new found appreciation for the difficulties people face when they don't have easy access to a stable living environment. 

Even though I'm now living in a single room, I continue to live a simple life. I focus on my basic needs: Food, water, clothing and shelter. I don't need a lot of stuff and I don't need a lot of space. A simple life helps me focus on what's really important: Connection and adhesion with The Creator.

Copyright © 2017. Carter Kagume. All Rights Reserved.

Lies Bring Us To The Truth

Updated February 27, 2017

Michael Laitman explained that the strength of a lie is in its concealment. If a lie is revealed (that it's a lie), it's abandoned, bringing us to the truth. A lie wants to remain concealed/hidden because that's how it continues to exist. As a lie spreads, as more people use it, buy into it and engage in it, eventually they realize that they have nothing, that it's a lie. The lie is then abandoned, bringing us to the truth. The lie brings about its own death, specifically, the widespread use of a lie, brings about its own death. In a world of lies, it is lies that bring us to The Truth.

He went on to give an example: Let's say a company manufactures a product that's not that great. They sell a few here and there and make some money. Eventually, they want to make more money, so they advertise to sell more. More people buy the product and discover that it's not that great. People stop buying the product and the company goes bankrupt.

Based on that explanation, let's take a look at our society. We've built a society that's based on a lie - that the quality of selfishness will fulfill us. The widespread use of this lie, all the many ways that we're selfish, is bringing about its own death because we're beginning to realize that we have nothing, that we remain empty, unfulfilled and unhappy. Eventually, the lie (selfishness) will be abandoned, bringing us to The Truth - that our happiness and fulfillment comes from connection, from unity and from doing good to others/Nature instead of ourselves. By this, we'll reach harmony and balance with each other and with all of Nature.

Also, there are negative/destructive lies, which harm us, others and all of Nature; and there are positive/constructive lies, which benefit us, others and all of Nature. Negative lies should be abandoned because they cause harm, leaving us empty and unfulfilled. An example of a positive lie is saying that I want to go to the gym when I don't; however, going makes me healthy. Another example of a positive lie is saying that I want to bestow (I want to do good to others/Nature) when I don't; however, doing so brings connection, unity and happiness.

In a world of lies, it is lies that bring us to The Truth - that bestowal (seeking to benefit others/Nature instead of ourselves) and not selfishness (seeking to benefit oneself with no regard for others) is our true source of happiness.

Be completely honest with The Creator because The Creator sees the heart.

In everything we do, we should seek to benefit others/Nature instead of ourselves.

Copyright © 2017, Carter Kagume. All Rights Reserved