I, Me, We and You
When we are born, life is all about I or me. Even though we don't yet know those words. We do know that we are cold or hungry or lonely. We know the feeling represented by I and me well.
As we grow, we learn the words I and me. We learn the word you, but only in connection to I and me. The word you helps us express who we want to give us something. We is used similarly to more subtly express actions that we want but require participation of another person.
Few children develop a sense of me, you and we in relation to what another person wants before the start of the teenage years. Most of us don't master the use of those words as they really relate to the wants and needs of another until well after the teenage years. Some people live their lives with only the juvenile use and understanding of the utility of the words I, me, we and you in relation to wants.
If we are perceptive we eventually start to think of the wants and needs of others. The words I, me, we and you start to be more useful. They can help us explore and express how we can help another person get what they want in life.
The irony of the discovery of how better to use the words I, me, we and you is that it gives us more in life than we ever dreamed we would have. We get more than we give. When we help others they want to help us. Ultimately everyone is happier. Happiness results from viewing life as a non-zero-sum-game. Viewing life as a zero-sum-game is a social trap that reduces human happiness.
In life giving will get you more than you expect. Selfishness will get you less than you expect and want. This is the irony of giving and getting.
