Be Good to People Everywhere . . .

Be good to people everywhere.  That sounds so simple, like a nice passing thought.  But think about it.  Be...good...to...people...everywhere!  Being good to someone can mean a many number of things and there can be a vast difference in what people view as being or doing good.  Instead of looking at it as something we all should "do," I see it as something we all should "be."  A lifestyle, really.  A conscious effort to live outside of ourselves and see the world through other peoples eyes.

Everyone needs someone to be good them, even you and me.  But change can only start with ourselves first, so why not be the change?  I have to say that I know many people that have a VERY good life and yet they still are very unhappy and unfulfilled (I'm sure you know these people too, right?  Or, maybe you feel this way?).  When we think about others and how to help them and then actually do it, we get past ourselves and find a deep sense of fulfillment.  

The subject can be deep but the concept is simple.  We are all at different places in life and we are all able to help on different levels but the great thing is that doesn't really matter.  Being good to people everywhere is simple.  It doesn't take a master plan or a lot of money.  It just takes a desire to do good.

Being good to people everywhere looks like this:

• Mowing the lawn for a neighbor that is sick
• Picking up a few extra groceries for your elderly grandparent when you are at the store
• Making a meal for a friend that just had a baby
• Listening to someone that needs to talk
• Volunteering at a soup kitchen or for a world crisis relief cause
• Simply giving a smile to someone that needs to feel loved
• Making yourself aware of world crisis issues
• Letting someone know that things are going to be OK
• Donating money or time to a local charity
• Giving a gift to a child in need
• Buying a warm coffee for someone on a cold day

Simple, right?  Life changing?  You think probably not, but you'll never really know.  Being good to people everywhere is just a lifestyle, a conscious effort to look out for others and help those in need in big and small ways.  And you'll find that once you start it's a bit contagious.  You'll look for new ways to help people.  What once seemed like a lot to give (whether time or money) just isn't enough.

I'm convinced this is the only way to live.  It's fulfilling and it's fun.  Every Friday we are going to have a Be Good Forum where we'd love to hear some of the good things you've been doing.  It's not to brag or say how great you are but rather a way to just create community to connect and share new ideas of how to be good to people everywhere.

How do you do good?

{image 1 & 3 from Flickr}