DO A GOOD DEED FOR YOURSELF

                                      DO A GOOD DEED FOR YOURSELF

 

“Be yourself - truthfully.
Accept yourself - gratefully.
Value yourself - joyfully.
Forgive yourself - completely.
Treat yourself - generously.
Balance yourself - harmoniously.
Bless yourself - abundantly.
Trust yourself - confidently
Love yourself - wholeheartedly.
Empower yourself - confidently.
Give yourself - enthusiastically.
Express yourself - radiantly.”

Author unknown

I would like to add to this quote: “Do a good deed for yourself – daily.”

We women, sometimes feel that we are superwomen - thinking we can do everything…taking care of the household, holding down a full time job, studying at COSTAATT, and other community activities.  We tend to forget to take some time off for ourselves. 

In fact, today was a very long and stressful one -  it began by going to the market, attending a friend’s funeral, dealing with household chores (cleaning, cooking etc.), taking the children to football and swimming practices, plus completing work projects and class assignments. 

I found myself in a very argumentative mood with my family. When I realized that I was just overwhelmed with everything that was happening around me, I knew I definitely needed some time alone.

If I could have afforded it, I would have liked to take a trip to Bahamas. (certainly aint got  the money at this time.)

Being a practicing Roman Catholic, I decided to go to the place where I knew I would get the solace I so needed at that time – Adoration Room, Church of the Holy Spirit, Malabar. 

I got the opportunity to cry out, pray and just enjoy the presence of my Creator.  I felt so at peace and connected to my Maker that I did not even realized that I spent almost two hours in the Adoration Room.  I was now in a better frame of mind to deal with all my family etc.

This may appear to be something simple but when I reflected I recognized in fact it was a “good deed” that I did for myself.  I had reconnected with my Maker.

 

As Josh Groban sang in his song: YOU RAISE ME UP :-

 “When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary;
When troubles come and my heart burdened be;
Then, I am still and wait here in the silence,
Until you come and sit awhile with me.”

 

 

It is important to note that one should  always try to find the time to do a good deed for oneself – be it some alone-time at a place of worship, going to a restaurant or a spa, taking a trip, or anything that one can afford.

Just do something that makes you feel good.

Before I can love and take care of others, I need to love and take care of myself first.

 

 

 

ONE GOOD DEED CREATES ANOTHER - What goes around comes around...

                                                   

Sometimes we do not even realise how a simple good deed can affect others.

Last Thursday (20^th September, 2012) I was on my way back home from my mom where I had received a few groceries. With my usual friendly self I gave a woman, who I did not know a lift to Arima, and well, as you know, how we women love to chat.  She began telling me about her life...she had just left her abusive husband and she was now a single parent with three  children aging from five to seven years...

This reminded me of my own experience whereby my mom had left an abusive relationship to live elsewhere with her five children and even though she did not ask for anything, I felt moved to gave her my last hundred dollar bill and the few groceries I had just received from my mother.

Even though things were a little tough for me, having to pay a mortgage, two instalments for the cars, send two children to school, I still had a permanent job and a supportive husband. I then dropped her off at the Arima Dial and I wished her well.

The very next day I got a call from my sister who asked if I could just give her a lift to the bank, even though she has a vehicle, she was just too tired to drive.  After she completed her transactions at the bank, she handed me two hundred dollars.  I just smiled and reflected on the good deed on that I had done just yesterday.

On Sunday morning I saw the same woman and her three children and she called out to me saying that she wanted to tell me something. She said that on that day (Thursday) she had nothing to eat, for she had just used the last piece of bread in her house to prepare sandwiches for her children and she did not know from where the next meal for herself or her children  was coming.

That day, what she had gotten from me, made it possible for her to provide basic meals for her family until her pay day. She was truly grateful for my assistance because it came at a time when she was greatly in need. I smiled because I knew I had already gotten my blessings.

All Religions speak about doing good deeds and the following are some of the quotes:

Christianity Galatians 6:9

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

Islam Surah Al-Hajj 22: Ayah 50

Verily, those who believe and do righteous good deeds, for them are Gardens of Delight (paradise).

 Hinduism Bhagavad Gita 6.40-41

No one who does good deeds will ever come to a bad end, either here or in the world to come. When such people die, they go to other realms where the righteous live.

 

Buddhism Dhammapada 173
Whoever, by a good deed, covers the evil done, such a one illumines this world like the moon freed from clouds.

 

Sikhism Adi Granth, Ramkali-ki-Var, M.1, p. 952

Heaven is not attained without good deeds.

In doing good deeds sometimes the time it takes to come back to you is short, within the same day, other times it may take longer...but it is important to note that one good deed always creates another.  

Just as Richie Spice sang in his song – The World is a Cycle

“Do right do right do right do right do right
Do good do good do good do good do good
The World Is A Cycle
And Everything Weh Happen Yes It Come Roun In A Circle”

 

I, Arlene Joseph – Mahon, am not perfect, this I know, but  I am a work in progress, most of the times, I slip and fall and I may hurt my family and friends but definitely not intentional.  I always try to do a least one good deed daily.

 

An addendum to the previous post- Information submitted for Week 1- Good Deeds:

MY  GOAL

My goal  for this assignment is to remind myself and by extension inform others that there is much more to having an enriching and successful life than possessing material things.  It is about how I relate with the persons with whom I interact on a daily basis. 

Life, to me, is basically about doing "good deeds"  for others, which in turn can create a domino effect whereby they too will pass it on - one good deed at a time.

This can definitely change the world.

                                        GOOD  DEEDS

According to George Eliot : "Our deeds determine us, as much as we determine our deeds."

My name is Arlene Joseph - Mahon  and my definition of a successful life must be one that would include the serving of others. 

The main purpose for my topic - Good Deeds - is to mainly focus on today's world, whereby individuals would usually highlight their successes by measuring their earnings; acquiring professional employment; possessing a fancy vehicle or a large house in a residential area or even having several influential friends.

However, I would like to emphasize the importance of good deeds as part of having and living a successful life, by doing something positive, be it in thoughts or in words, for example, praying for the less fortunate; smiling at someone; encouraging children in my community to study and respect their parents and those in authority; offering a homeless person a meal; assisting a colleague with a difficult assignment or even a simple gesture of holding the door open for someone.

So from the words of the song "If I can help somebody" sung by Mahalia Jackson:

"If I can help somebody as I pass along,
If I can cheer somebody with a word or song,
If I can show somebody how they're travelling wrong
Then my living shall not be in vain."

 

 

Whatever the deed may be, we can change the world - one good deed at a time.