When individuals who have successfully overcome adversity and achieved social recognition view the world through their ability to conquer personal struggles, challenges emerge. Seeing the experience of overcoming hardships through diligent effort as an opportunity to cultivate genuine self-confidence enhances positive self-esteem. However, evaluating everything in the world solely from that perspective can lead to significant difficulties for both yourself and others. My success may change me, but there are no guaranteed formulas to positively impact the world. Success holds value when it becomes an internal celebration within me. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”
I previously presented the stone currency "Fei" used on the island of Yap in Micronesia, the western Pacific island nation. The "Fei" currency was a round circle, sometimes over 3 meters in diameter and weighing 3.5 tons. The island of Yap had no roads. People went in and out barefoot. Several people carried this money by placing wooden sticks in the center hole of the circle. The island used to belong to Germany when Germany bought the Caroline Islands from Spain. The German government ordered the village chief to repair the path. But the village chief refused the order. A fine had to be imposed, and the heavy stone money could not be confiscated. After much agonizing, the German government marked the stone money with a cross in black paint. In other words, they confiscated the property. Surprisingly, the village head repaired the path and the German government removed the cross. The seizure was lifted. Economic value is personalized through ownership. The key to o...