Money Should Be Spread as Manure?

Money is like manure, it should be spread around Brooke Astor, New York socialite

Why is it that some people find a great deal of pleasure in giving money away? Brook Astor, rich and part of New York society, disdained pretension and devoted time and considerable resources to New York's unfortunate. Astor declared herself "nouveau pauvre." Imagine! While many on the stock exchange were busily trying to get more, Brooke Astor used money to help others.

Last week, Brooke Astor, a member of New York high society died at 105. But what a mark she left on the people of the city... When she inherited a fortune, she determined to make a difference by alleviating human misery. In the process she gave away nearly $200 million.

For decades Brooke Astor lived as the city’s unofficial first lady, described by New York Times as "one who moved effortlessly from the sumptuous apartments of Fifth Avenue to the ragged barrios of East Harlem, deploying her inherited millions to help the poor help themselves."

A few people, like Brooke Astor, find pleasure through compassion and empathy for others. In some ways it's related to the brain. The medial section of the brain's prefrontal cortex has been associated with empathy and regulation of negative emotion. Researchers are learning more...

Since Brooke Astor derived pleasure in helping others, philanthropy was a serotonin builder for her. The more she gave, the more serotonin, a chemical of well-being, flooded her brain.

Do you find this true for yourself, too? Thoughts...