Being Good
What does being good mean? In my own opinion, I think being good is the act of showing kindness to someone without expecting anything in return. We can be good to people we are familiar with and those we are not familiar with, because being good to someone can actually save a soul or influence someone positively.
Being good to someone is not all about money, although money can be involved. For example, paying someone’s hospital bills, paying a child’s school fees, donating to orphanages, helping to establish a business for someone, or elevating a person from nobody to somebody are all acts of goodness. Some people even do these things without anyone knowing, except the person they are helping.
In my opinion, goodness should come from the heart and not from the desire for praise or public attention. I think that when people record every act of kindness just for others to see, it may become more about seeking recognition than genuinely helping others.
Being good is also about showing kindness, love, and patience to both familiar and unfamiliar people. For example, if you see an elderly woman trying to cross the road, you can assist her. Simple acts of kindness can make a big difference in someone’s life.
Being good can change society for us because anyone who is genuinely good has a good heart. If about 90 percent of people in the world today were genuinely good, the world would be a better place to live in. Someone with a good heart would not use their fellow human being for rituals, scam others, rob people at gunpoint, produce fake products, or administer the wrong drugs to patients. Someone who is genuinely good would hate to see others in pain.
Above all, being good means being honest and doing the right thing. Be a good person and expect nothing from anyone. Be good with or without someone around, because you never know how your goodness can affect another person's life. Nature has its own way of favouring good people.
Though it might sometimes be difficult, especially when the people you are doing good for choose to hurt you, it does not mean you should stop being good.
A few months ago, I lent someone money to sort things out for herself. Till date, she has not refunded the money. I had very little, but she came to me to ask for a loan and promised to refund me on a particular day. I trusted her and gave her the money, but she refused to pay me back and eventually stopped picking up my calls.
Did that stop me from lending money to people when I have some to spare? No. I will still do it again, but this time, I will lend only the amount I can afford to let go. I am still doing good, but I have learnt something from my last experience.
There are still real and genuine people out there. Do good, not for the world to see, but because you might be saving a soul or making a difference in someone's life.
Image from my camera