Author: Stephanie Hills

  • When the good go bad…

    How is it that so much harm is caused in the name of religion? How can people who do dreadful things look themselves in the mirror and think they are right? I believe it has something to do with language. Not just the way we use words to justify what we do, but the very […]

  • Another lost wallet returned

    Recently, while driving, flatmates Chantell and Gerri spotted a wallet lying in the middle of a busy road. They braved the traffic to rescue it, which included chasing paper money being blown down the street in the wind. The wallet contained a driver’s license, but no address. What to do? Luckily there was a hairdresser’s […]

  • 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 […]