Black Cat
VIP
If anyone asked you what it took to be a good person or who you considered a good person what would you say? Mother Teresa would be high on most people’s list as would be St Francis of Assisi. All of them worked hard to help others but could you not also add friends and neighbors who will never be recognized for the selfless help they give others? If you decided you wanted to be remembered as a good person what would you expect to have to do? Different people will put forward different ideas but all will probably be valid and a combination of all will be ideal. Wanting to be thought of as a good person may not be the ideal reason for helping others but it could also be argued that if you are need of help and someone helps you and asks nothing in return do you really care what their motivation was?
A Good Neighbor
At a time when there are cutbacks and charities are finding it hard to cope, it is good to know that people are prepared to look after the elderly and frail in their own community. It may just be picking up groceries when the weather is bad or taking over a meal when a person in sick but it can be a lifeline in many cases. As communities change and people move away from the area they grew up in there will be more of this kind of help needed. Children are not close at hand to help elderly parents but should be grateful to the people taking over their role. Hopefully this will lead to them doing the same in their new area. Sadly people who are prepared to do this are often taken advantage off but by setting boundaries, you can still be a good neighbor and not suffer for it.
Follow the Law
Whether you agree with all the laws passed, they are there to protect someone. Often the law protects the evil but as long as it also protects the good as well it should be adhered to. Sir Thomas More said "I’d give the Devil benefit of law, for my own safety’s sake!" Laws are there for a reason and while they may seem to be pointless a good person will not break them. It is one thing to campaign to have seemingly unfair laws changed but while they are in place it is a good idea to abide by them.
Giving to Charity
This does not have to be done in a brash and obvious way. If you have more money than you need then giving it to someone less fortunate will help them at a time when they are most in need. A good person will realize this and be happy to remain anonymous. Even if there is no spare money around there can be items that you no longer use that either someone else will be glad to receive or a charity shop will be able to sell.
Voluntary Work
Although giving money is important sometimes contact and a physical presence is more needed. Whether it is in a hostel for the homeless or serving in a charity shop, someone will benefit from what you are doing. Youth clubs and sports teams often need adult supervision and the elderly cannot always make it to the store. Community workers cover many different areas but the thing they all have in common is the desire to help those less fortunate or able them themselves. Don’t be judgmental as you don’t know why the people you are dealing with are in the mess they are in. It may be a weakness on their part but they may have been unlucky.
Fostering
Taking someone else’s child into your home is not a thing everyone can do, but it is a vitally needed occupation and the child who is cared for in this way will praise the help that was given to them. Foster carers not only keep children out of state care but give them the love and aid that they would not get in the state system. Showing them that family life and people can be good will help them become better people themselves and hopefully not repeat the mistakes of the previous generation.
Just Being a Good Person
How will you be able to decide if you are living your life as a good person? One way will be to compare what you do with the lifestyle of people you think were good. Not being judgmental should be a start as should being forgiving. Not everyone will be as open as you to being good and may make mistakes. Take people as you find them and unless they are committing major offences, accept that they do not have your strength. You need to do good deeds and not just keep away from doing bad ones.
Before you start your good deeds however you should think of the consequences. In your desire to be good will you risk harming someone else. Whether it could mean them having to do something wrong or not being able to develop themselves, make sure you are not setting someone else up to fail.
Make sure you are not going to help others do bad things because you want to do good. Don’t be selfish and try to do everything yourself. Even if the outcome is a nice one, others may feel put out. An example could be collecting for goods charity. You may have a lot of things to donate, but others may be giving less than you in volume but more in the fact they can less afford to give things away. Offer to let others take credit for some of your belongings and they will not only think you have done something nice, but may be prepared to do the same when they are in a position to.
How Does Being Good Affect You?
Think carefully about the effect being good is having on you. Are you being used by the people you are trying to help? If so there is no need to stop helping people, but just do so to a lesser extreme or be more careful about who you choose to help.
Honesty is good but there are times when telling a lie may be the best thing to do. Put the feelings of others before your own views. If you saw a neighbors pet killed by a car and know it suffered do you need to tell them that? You could say it died right away and no one would be harmed. You are not making the pet suffer more but the owner is relieved that it was quick and painless. If you tell the truth in cases other than this it is likely that you will behave in a better way as you won’t want to admit to your failings.
Finally try to find ways to encourage others to be good. There is no need to lecture them but it could be something as simple as suggesting to a friend or neighbor who claims to be bored that they join when you volunteer. You may not even have to suggest their involvement as if they see how you help others and still enjoy your life they may just want to get involved.
A Good Neighbor
At a time when there are cutbacks and charities are finding it hard to cope, it is good to know that people are prepared to look after the elderly and frail in their own community. It may just be picking up groceries when the weather is bad or taking over a meal when a person in sick but it can be a lifeline in many cases. As communities change and people move away from the area they grew up in there will be more of this kind of help needed. Children are not close at hand to help elderly parents but should be grateful to the people taking over their role. Hopefully this will lead to them doing the same in their new area. Sadly people who are prepared to do this are often taken advantage off but by setting boundaries, you can still be a good neighbor and not suffer for it.
Follow the Law
Whether you agree with all the laws passed, they are there to protect someone. Often the law protects the evil but as long as it also protects the good as well it should be adhered to. Sir Thomas More said "I’d give the Devil benefit of law, for my own safety’s sake!" Laws are there for a reason and while they may seem to be pointless a good person will not break them. It is one thing to campaign to have seemingly unfair laws changed but while they are in place it is a good idea to abide by them.
Giving to Charity
This does not have to be done in a brash and obvious way. If you have more money than you need then giving it to someone less fortunate will help them at a time when they are most in need. A good person will realize this and be happy to remain anonymous. Even if there is no spare money around there can be items that you no longer use that either someone else will be glad to receive or a charity shop will be able to sell.
Voluntary Work
Although giving money is important sometimes contact and a physical presence is more needed. Whether it is in a hostel for the homeless or serving in a charity shop, someone will benefit from what you are doing. Youth clubs and sports teams often need adult supervision and the elderly cannot always make it to the store. Community workers cover many different areas but the thing they all have in common is the desire to help those less fortunate or able them themselves. Don’t be judgmental as you don’t know why the people you are dealing with are in the mess they are in. It may be a weakness on their part but they may have been unlucky.
Fostering
Taking someone else’s child into your home is not a thing everyone can do, but it is a vitally needed occupation and the child who is cared for in this way will praise the help that was given to them. Foster carers not only keep children out of state care but give them the love and aid that they would not get in the state system. Showing them that family life and people can be good will help them become better people themselves and hopefully not repeat the mistakes of the previous generation.
Just Being a Good Person
How will you be able to decide if you are living your life as a good person? One way will be to compare what you do with the lifestyle of people you think were good. Not being judgmental should be a start as should being forgiving. Not everyone will be as open as you to being good and may make mistakes. Take people as you find them and unless they are committing major offences, accept that they do not have your strength. You need to do good deeds and not just keep away from doing bad ones.
Before you start your good deeds however you should think of the consequences. In your desire to be good will you risk harming someone else. Whether it could mean them having to do something wrong or not being able to develop themselves, make sure you are not setting someone else up to fail.
Make sure you are not going to help others do bad things because you want to do good. Don’t be selfish and try to do everything yourself. Even if the outcome is a nice one, others may feel put out. An example could be collecting for goods charity. You may have a lot of things to donate, but others may be giving less than you in volume but more in the fact they can less afford to give things away. Offer to let others take credit for some of your belongings and they will not only think you have done something nice, but may be prepared to do the same when they are in a position to.
How Does Being Good Affect You?
Think carefully about the effect being good is having on you. Are you being used by the people you are trying to help? If so there is no need to stop helping people, but just do so to a lesser extreme or be more careful about who you choose to help.
Honesty is good but there are times when telling a lie may be the best thing to do. Put the feelings of others before your own views. If you saw a neighbors pet killed by a car and know it suffered do you need to tell them that? You could say it died right away and no one would be harmed. You are not making the pet suffer more but the owner is relieved that it was quick and painless. If you tell the truth in cases other than this it is likely that you will behave in a better way as you won’t want to admit to your failings.
Finally try to find ways to encourage others to be good. There is no need to lecture them but it could be something as simple as suggesting to a friend or neighbor who claims to be bored that they join when you volunteer. You may not even have to suggest their involvement as if they see how you help others and still enjoy your life they may just want to get involved.
Read this carefully...by the time you finish reading this,You will be A Good Person
