For quite a while now, I’ve been trying to put into practice engaging in at least one good deed a day. This is far easier said than done, to be fair, and I think it is important to recognize that there will be days during which zero good deeds are accomplished. Life is unpredictable, so it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to hold ourselves to an entirely unrealistic standard.
When I say good deed, it could be a variety of things. One of my go-tos is picking up a piece of trash while out in public, and the good news is that this one is one that will arguably remain both relevant and doable for the forseeable future, thanks to assholes who think littering is appropriate.
It might not seem terribly drastic in the moment, but picking up a piece of garbage every day equates to picking up 365 pieces of trash in a year. You don’t always need to do a cannonball to make waves.
Some other examples of good deeds that aren’t asking for an arm and a leg include: telling a stranger to have a good day; holding the door open for the person behind you; buying a meal for a homeless individual; paying for the person’s order in the drive-through behind you. If money is tight, don’t worry about the last two suggestions and focus instead on the ones you can easily achieve without causing a hindrance in your own life.
The more we do good deeds for others, the more the act becomes instinct. I’m not sure about you, but I certainly think this world can always use more kindness and good people, and doing something helpful for someone other than ourselves every day is a great way to generate some positivity.
Give it a try and see how you do. You might surprise yourself.
Photo by Jasper Garratt on Unsplash
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