The other day, after work, I was out in my yard planting some perennials and watering them (I told you I wanted more dirt!) while my neighbor was mowing his lawn. He stopped the mower and said hello and asked how I was. I replied with the usual “Fine. Thank you! Enjoying this gorgeous weather.” and promptly asked him how he was doing. His reply stopped me. I thought I misheard him and quickly said “Pardon me?” and he replied with what I thought he had said; “I’m just trying to do good.” I loved that response and while he continued on mowing and I planting, I couldn’t stop thinking of this 20 second exchange.
The day before this exchange took place in our yards, the Orlando nightclub shooting took place. The week before that, a man was given a ridiculously light jail sentence for raping a woman. Not soon before that, people were passing judgement on a mother whose child slipped through a zoo fence which resulted in the killing of a gorilla. Sadly, I am sure judgement was passed on the parents of the 2 yr. old killed by an alligator.
What do all of these events have in common? For one, each is horrific. A woman was raped while her attacker gets a slap on the wrist. A mother is being judged for something that could have happened to any one of us. Hatred and judgment ran deep enough in one man to kill over 45 innocent people.
So while there has been so much negativity, judgment, and hatred lately, my neighbor is quietly trying to do good.
When was the last time you were just trying to do good in the world? Click To Tweet
Trying to Do Good
How can we try to do good? Easily and in a million little ways. Here are just a few:
- Smile at someone. You never know when a smile will brighten a day.
- Compliment someone.
- Thank someone.
- Donate your time to help someone in need.
- Clip a bouquet form your garden and deliver it to a neighbor.
- Hold the door for someone.
- Treat the person behind you in the drive thru.
- Volunteer.
- Deliver treats to your local police department or fire department.
- Offer a cool beverage to your mail carrier.
The beautiful thing about kindness and doing good is that it has a ripple effect. If you are on the receiving end of a kind gesture it just may inspire you to treat the next person with a little extra kindness.
Will trying to do good solve the evil and negativity in the world? Probably not. It will, however, go a long way in reminding people that although negativity, judgment, and evil do exist, kindness and love do as well.
So today, do me and all of those touched by grief and crime a favor. Try to do some good.
