The Apple, the Dollar, and the Idea

Thereโ€™s a story that has traveled far and wide, often attributed to George Bernard Shaw.

It goes something like this:

If you and I each have an apple and we exchange them, we both still have one apple. Nothing changes.

But if you and I each have an idea and we exchange them, we both end up with two ideas โ€” making us richer than before.

Whether Shaw truly said it or not doesnโ€™t really matter anymore. The story itself carries a truth so profound that it has outgrown its author. Itโ€™s a story about generosity, collaboration, and the boundless nature of ideas.

When we share an idea, we donโ€™t lose it. We multiply it.

Ideas are unlike possessions โ€” they expand the moment they are exchanged.

One thought sparks another, one perspective reshapes the next, and together they create something new that neither could have imagined alone.

In a world that often rewards possession โ€” of things, wealth, or even credit โ€” this simple story reminds us of something different: the true wealth of sharing. Whether itโ€™s a conversation with a friend, a collaboration between creators, or a discussion online, every exchange of ideas has the power to enrich both sides.

And perhaps thatโ€™s how creativity truly grows โ€” not in isolation, but in the open flow between minds willing to give.


The more I thought about it, the deeper it became.

When we share something material โ€” an apple, a dollar, or an object โ€” weโ€™re still within the boundaries of the finite. No matter how often we exchange, the total remains the same.

But when we share something non-material โ€” like an idea, a story, or a spark of inspiration โ€” the result is infinite. It multiplies endlessly, giving birth to new thoughts and new worlds.

That realization revealed a simple truth: anything material we share or swap stays finite, but anything non-material we share becomes infinite.

In sharing, we create abundance.


It brought me to a larger understanding of life itself.

Everything we see, touch, and experience once came from nothingness โ€” from pure potential.

In yogic philosophy, this nothingness is called Akash, the space element.

It is not empty space but a subtle field of intelligence, the source from which all creation arises.

Every sound emerges from silence, every thought from stillness, and every form from the invisible.

Even modern physics hints at the same truth: what we perceive as matter is merely energy condensed โ€” patterns vibrating within an unseen field.

So when we share an idea, weโ€™re doing something deeply cosmic.

Weโ€™re participating in the same process that created stars, rivers, and life itself โ€” bringing something into existence that wasnโ€™t there before.

Ideas are born from Akash, and every shared thought is a ripple in that infinite space.


The moment we give away an idea, it grows.

The moment we speak from our inner silence, creation continues.

This is how true abundance works โ€” not by accumulation, but by expansion.

The material world operates on limits.

The immaterial world โ€” the world of consciousness and creativity โ€” operates on infinity.

And when we share freely, we align ourselves with the same intelligence that keeps the universe in motion.


The next time you find yourself inspired, remember: what you hold within you is infinite.

When you share your thoughts, your art, or your stories, you are not losing โ€” you are multiplying.

You are participating in the miracle of creation that begins in nothingness and expands without end.

From nothingness comes everything.

And from sharing, comes more of what truly matters.

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This blog is for thoughtful adults who are starting again โ€” in learning, creativity, or life โ€” and want to grow steadily without noise or pressure.

Here youโ€™ll find daily reflections and practical guides shaped by lived experience. The focus is on learning through doing: building consistency, adapting to change, and finding clarity in everyday practice.

The stories and guides here come from real processes โ€” creative experiments, hands-on projects, life in rural Japan, working with nature, and learning new skills step by step. Nothing is rushed. Nothing is polished for performance. The aim is steady progress, honest reflection, and practical insight you can actually use.

If youโ€™re curious about life in Japan, learning new skills at your own pace, or finding a calmer, more intentional way forward, youโ€™re in the right place.

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