Author: Stephanie Hills

  • An honest stranger

    Tony writes that he had just scrapped his car and got $200 cash for it. An hour later he couldn’t find the cash. He backtracked and asked at the Post Office, where the teller told him that an Indian lady had found it and handed it in to a shop across the road. Relieved to […]

  • In my day…

    When I was young we walked six miles to school every day, sometimes trudging in thick snow with schoolbags full of heavy books. Boy, did we feel silly when we found out there was a bus!

  • Happy Nation Motivational Groups

    Change is hard. Whether you’re trying to lose weight, get fit, save money, manage your time or be more spontaneous, old habits and situations can get in the way. A Happy Nation Motivational Group can help you turn your positive intentions into real success. In small groups of four to five people, we explore what […]

  • Bad Dad

    I never wanted to believe that my Dad was stealing from his job as a road worker. But when I got home, all the signs were there.

  • The shortcomings of rational thinking

    I was brought up to believe that ‘rational’ thinking was the best, if not the only, way to get to the truth. Later I came to see that rational thought cannot, by itself, bring new knowledge; it can only confirm what you already thought you knew. This is because you cannot begin reasoning without taking […]

  • Trust and mistrust

    If someone doesn’t trust you, chances are it hurts your pride. But when it comes to trust, I think people often get offended by the wrong things. I believe it is up to all of us, all the time, to prove ourselves trustworthy. Other people should never be expected to trust us without our having […]

  • Professional problem

    A doctor and a lawyer are talking at a party. Their conversation is constantly interrupted by people describing their ailments and asking the doctor for free medical advice. After an hour of this, the exasperated doctor asks the lawyer, “What do you do to stop people from asking you for legal advice when you’re out […]

  • Dirt and beauty

    In 1974 Saudi Arabia was a fabulously rich country, yet its streets were piled high with rubbish. There was no garbage disposal system other than the goats that roamed the streets. The reason? “No self-respecting Saudi would ever collect trash.”[i] Being too proud to deal with their garbage meant that effectively the Saudis were left […]

  • Bad guard

    Lem: ”I got fired from my job as a bank guard.” Clem: ”That’s awful. What happened?” Lem: ”Well a thief came in to rob a bank. I drew my gun. I told him that if he took one more step, I’d let him have it.” Clem: ”What did thief do then?” Lem: ”He took one […]

  • Charity request

    A local Greenpeace office realized that the organization had never received a donation from the town’s most successful businessman. The person in charge of contributions called him to persuade him to contribute. “Our research shows that out of a yearly income of at least $500,000, you did not give a penny to charity. Wouldn’t you […]