You might think that as a former teacher, mother, and orphanage volunteer, I would fully embrace the concept of “it takes a village”.

I don’t. I like helping others – that’s easy.

My problem lies in receiving. This does not apply to receiving support from my generous family, at that, I’m embarrassingly good. But from anyone else, I have some rules… If you make me dinner, I need pay it forward three times.

A few months ago, I had an epiphany. My project needed money. I’ve happily lived in my own happy, rainbow, fairy, Unicorn land as I whittled away my savings and started to depend on my generous, handsome man. My business that was supposed to be making money, was put on hold and I was spending time illustrating and slowly developing a plan for a new version. I did this without any thought of financial planning or regard to the fact that my beautiful family has basic needs like food.

Just as I was in my depths of disillusionment, I learned about Kickstarter.

Kickstarter rocks! It’s like a virtual village lending program. Well, it’s not lending, it’s gifting, which excites me even more.

Except, I’ve always seen myself as the giver, not the receiver. When my ears first heard: “It’s better to give than to receive”, the words embedded into me, at a cellular level. And it brings me joy to give. But if I started a Kickstarter campaign for Arithmetic Village, I would have to receive!

So, how could I manage to receive and still feel good about it? I would give as well! This actually was  my plan all along, to creating an Arithmetic Village that was easily assessable for everyone! So, in return for gifting to this project, you can receive old books, new books and iPad applications. In addition, low resolution books will be down loadable for everyone! There.

In this equation, everyone gives! Arithmetic Village + Kickstarter = World Happiness.