14 Comments
User's avatar
Beks Roen's avatar

If I had the margin, I’d fund housing for trans and aspec people, in-person social spaces for aspec folks, and theatre campuses built around affordable housing, community libraries and museums, and community gardens

Shaneh Woods's avatar

LOVE IT! Put it in your journal, but say WHEN I have margin!

Author Liz Lawless's avatar

If I had the margin, I'd invest in compassionate, strong women politicians, woman-owned creative businesses and my dream home.

Shaneh Woods's avatar

Beautiful! Let's make it happen!

Safrianna 🦄🌈✨'s avatar

I felt so seen reading this!

If I had the margin, I would open my dream retreat center that doubles as a self-care b&b and a place where people can recover from violence. It would have a daycare and play center for art activities for underprivileged children. I'd write my books full time and hire incredible artists.

Hello Jilli's avatar

WHEN you have the margin 😘

Shaneh Woods's avatar

Stole my line ;-p

Safrianna 🦄🌈✨'s avatar

Thank you, dear friend! Yes! When!

Shaneh Woods's avatar

What a beautiful vision! I can't wait for it to come to fruition and in ways that feel unimaginable right now.

Beks Roen's avatar

Shaneh you’re reading my mind again 😅

Shaneh Woods's avatar

It's a gift ;-p

Rob Hunter's avatar

I love this section (well, the whole piece, frankly), BUT...

The modern healer inherited exactly one half of it. (of what the monk inherited)

They kept the vow and lost the monastery. There is no order feeding them, no infirmary when their body gives out from the work, no provision for old age, no roof that comes with the calling. They pay their own rent, buy their own insurance, fund their own retirement, and cover their own recovery from the emotional freight of the job — all while operating under a system designed for someone whose survival was guaranteed by somebody else.

Shaneh Woods's avatar

Thanks! So what are you going to do when you have an abundance of margin?

Shruthi Vidhya Sundaram's avatar

This whole piece hit hard Shaneh! And I have so much to share haha (probably will write a separate note on my own too lol).

So in India...in our histories, we have stories of healers who were monks and were provided for completely. We also have stories of healers who had shops. They took money as exchange. They were doctors.

In my spiritual journey I've realised some people are meant to earn from their soul purpose. And some people are not. As simple as that. When one class tries to get into another, they hurt their journey. You know?

I used to give "scholarship spots" for clients too. Then after 2 years I stopped, and haven't given one since then. I have given slight discounts only if it feels right to me to the right person. Nothing more.

Because I realised my margins cannot go into my work itself. The place I earn money and the place I give as charity cannot be the same place. That's when I started charging fully here, and fund kids to go to school every year. I fund at least 2 for now.

Your section of follow the money hit me hard. I had never asked myself the question of who benefits from this thing??? Thank you so so so much for opening my eyes about it! And making me think! Thank you!

Every healer needs to be fucking rich and well rested. In my head that's our dharma.