Is it really better to teach a person to fish than to give them a fish?

A lot of us have heard this phrase when someone (including ourselves) asked an elder to please give us something when we were young. We’ve heard it said about many different people in a time of need… and it’s been criticized as follows:

“Well if I’m starving I don’t have time to fish. So just give me the damn fish or give me the money to buy the fish.”

There are definitely moments where you just need to give the person the “fish” because their life may depend on it, BUT if you never give them the knowledge OR MORE IMPORTANTLY

if they are never given the OPPORTUNITY to exist in an autonomous and secure existence

the person will always remain dependent.

You Have to Unpack The Trauma

This is one of the reasons I strongly support the work of farmers, of renewable energy, of owning property, of personal freedoms over one’s body and space.

THESE are the critical factors that allow for…