Time Trade Values – Reciprosity
Wednesday, August 19th, 2009What goes around comes around
Reciprocity is integral in Time Trade but it’s a pretty simple philosophy akin to the ever popular concepts of Karma or the “Golden Rule” of : do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
At the most basic level it’s about giving and helping others without the expectation of receiving anything in return.Yet, reciprocity also describes the sense of “obligation” we often feel to return in kind the gifts or favours we receive from people.
“Reciprocity obliges a recipient of service to contribute…[while] free services can send an uninteded message: if you have no money, you have nothing I need, want, or value” Edgar Cahn
While it’s not always so easy to match favour for favour, gift for gift, dollar for dollar, under a system of Time Trade, we are all capable of matching one hour of time with one hour of time. Cahn, the inventor of Time Banking aka Time Trade, also talks about reciprocity as a tool that can:-
- empower those we help
- reinforce self esteem
- bridge the gulf between market ($) and non market ($0) activities
- generate greater generosity
Our Time Trade system is based around communities of people that are willing to support, collaborate and work with each other.
Time Trade is much more than simply a means to motivate, recognise or reward peoples contribution. In an world still dominted by the monetary market ($ valuations) Time Trade establishes a very important, universal measure of the value we contribute to our society. A measure of the trust and love, caring and community that we build each day by helping others and causes greater than ourselves.
By exchanging time credits with others in exchange for their time and talents – i.e. music, craft or companionship – the circle of giving grows ever larger helping to build stronger communities through reciprocity.
Register with Worknow to Start Trading your Time, Today.
Earn Time Credits by:-
- Trade your talent and time with community members that have credits to exchange.
- Be gifted or nominated Time Credits for past contributions to your community.
- You can request Time Credits for time that you have recently volunteered.
For more information read about time trade here
