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March 18, 2020

Are You A River Or A Dam?

People often ask, why I’m basically giving away our courses. Here’s why…

Many, many moons ago, my late grandfather helped me to make a simple, but far-reaching choice. Using the life-giving properties of water as a metaphor he said there are basically two kinds of people in life: Rivers and Dams.

Rivers

Rivers let the waters that fall and flow into them, freely flow out again. Sharing the blessings they receive from above and upstream generously with everyone downstream is part of their DNA. They will even use their own resources (sand and pebbles) to clean the water they receive. Adding more value to those downstream. Rivers, believing in the welfare of the immediate many, are generous givers.

Dams

Dams keep almost all the water they receive for themselves – using the pretence of ‘saving this for a future drought’ they deliberately suffocate everyone downstream. Only sharing when they first had their fill (and drowning everything in their holding area) they don’t add value to the blessings they receive. Instead, they let the sparkling water they receive from the rain and the many upstream Rivers and Streams go stale. Dams, believing in the welfare of the future many, are very reluctant givers.

Now here’s the thing…

We need both Rivers and Dams. Though Nature didn’t think so – dams are manmade. But that’s not the point. The point is we need both those who believe in improving the Present for all existing life, and those who believe in, hopefully, someday improving the Future for generations to come.

Pause and Reflect

Only you can decide which one you are/want/need to be. No else can decide that for you. Both are needed. But you have to decide. Which one will it be?

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  1. Mar-Zanne Roos says

    December 16, 2022 at 3:19 pm

    River

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  2. Michele Wilkerson says

    November 26, 2022 at 6:19 pm

    Definitely a river. Sometimes to a fault

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  3. irene naberman says

    October 21, 2022 at 10:53 am

    Hopefully I will be a river and inspire others to be more conscious of nature, and go back to the basics.

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  4. S Opperman says

    October 8, 2022 at 5:19 pm

    Currently I feel more like a lake. Content and receptive but with my own ever present cycles and currents.

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  5. Stephanie Malan says

    October 3, 2022 at 10:27 pm

    A River… it comes naturally

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  6. Cynthia Santos says

    September 23, 2022 at 4:09 am

    A river because knowledge is power :]

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  7. Alicia Fisser says

    July 21, 2022 at 12:54 pm

    A river. Sharing knowledge if key for learning

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  8. Alida Allchin says

    May 19, 2022 at 9:03 pm

    Being a river with knowledge gained, is a wonderful alternative to being generous with one’s money.
    I hope to be a river in all ways.
    I plan to share this course via Social media where I can, and am already including my kids in just what I already learned in the Budding Herbologist course!

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  9. Jessica Bryant says

    April 19, 2022 at 2:03 pm

    I hope to always be a river!

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  10. Megan Keyser says

    March 7, 2022 at 2:03 am

    I have always been and strive to continue to work at always being a river! I LOVE sharing knowledge! Especially such knowledge that is SO useful and helpful!

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  11. Colin Jardine says

    March 1, 2022 at 10:53 pm

    I am a River. That who I am, who I always have been. I get my water from above and share it with the thirsty downstream. As long as we are giving, there will be no lack in receiving. Will share on my new fb account

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  12. Stacey moss says

    January 21, 2022 at 1:23 am

    I love your grandfather’s wisdom and analogy! In his words, I have always been a river! I love to share what I learn because it is so beneficial to all. I have already been sharing info from this class with my 2 daughters, as well as my 3 closest friends. Once I dig deeper into starting my blog (through the resources that you shared), I will definitely add a link to The Herbal Academy, and with your permission, information about my experience here. Thank you again!

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  13. LINGANISILE SIYOYO says

    December 18, 2021 at 4:14 pm

    I’d like to be a River flowing side by side with knowledge.

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  14. LINGANISILE SIYOYO says

    December 18, 2021 at 4:13 pm

    My wife and kids will be shared.as soon as possible bi emails ,SMSes and verbally

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  15. Vici Kiehm says

    October 12, 2021 at 11:02 pm

    I am definitely a river, rather be a river that fills the dam till it over flows and starts giving to others.
    I do love the analogy of the river or a dam.

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  16. Charis Parks says

    September 26, 2021 at 4:24 am

    I definitely want to be a river! I intend to start by learning what I can and sharing at any appropriate opportunity. I find the best way to do this is to demonstrate the use of herbs as needed, so people can experience herbs at work for themselves!!

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    • Charis Parks says

      September 26, 2021 at 4:25 am

      This (being a river) is also known as taking part in a gifting economy.

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  17. Lynette Barkhuizen says

    September 18, 2021 at 9:51 pm

    I’m surely going to teach my children, but they are to young to do the course on their own, thus they will have to learn alongside me.
    I have a few friends who would love to do the course.
    I’m not really on Facebook, I’m going to see if there is a way I can Whatsapp a link to them.

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  18. Margie Osterbauer says

    September 15, 2021 at 1:47 am

    I have shared the Budding Herbologist on Facebook along with a review of how helpful it has been to me.

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  19. Jessica Austin says

    August 28, 2021 at 5:11 am

    I am a river. After a rough childhood and rebuilding myself as an adult…this course has helped me see that I am a river. I want to help and give freely to those I care about

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  20. Sithembile Makhombothi says

    August 18, 2021 at 3:06 pm

    I have shared this with my colleagues and my sister ,there’s some interesting facts that gives them those ‘AHA’ moments

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