“NO GOOD DEED GOES UNPUNISHED”

I realized with the speed life has been flying by these days, I haven’t written a “Month in Review” update for a while.  In the past, I’ve shared some of my favorite acts of goodness for the month when I write my “Month in Review,” but I have changed that notion a bit.  I figured I can bend the rules a little bit, since I am the one who made them up!  Instead, I would like to share with you a lesson that I am still learning while going about my 365 blogging experience.

Today is Day 244 of 365 Days of Goodness.  I am definitely over the halfway mark.  I have 244 Acts of Goodness under my belt, something that I feel very proud and excited about.  And I thought it was time to reflect a little bit.

When I started my quest of “365 Good Deeds in 365 Days,” back on January 1st of this year, it was a personal challenge.  Sure I knew I was in way over my head, but I was ready.  This blog started as a personal journey, but through the last 244 days has grown into so much more.

I have learned so many valuable life lessons during this 365 experience.  I have felt that indescribable wonderful feeling of being able to help those in need.  I have gone the extra mile for others and I have spent quality time with friends, family, and loved ones.  Not because I had to, but because I’ve genuinely wanted to.  365 has reminded me, or rather brought me back to where I want to be in life.  365 continues to have a profound impact on the person I am, and the person that I strive to be.

I know when we volunteer in Peru and Costa Rica and get to experience helping those in need, that will add another level of importance to my life.  I anticipate it having a strong and positive impact on this 365 “journey.” (Of course I will be updating all of you on our travels once we leave on Oct. 19th.)

But even with all the goodness that comes with helping those in need and going the extra mile for others, that quote by Clare Booth Luce, “No Good Deed Goes Unpunished,” still rings true.  I never really understood what that meant, until now.

I’ve had several experiences in the last couple weeks where no matter how good the intention was from my end, it still was read as the opposite.  I find that when you have to “justify” your acts of goodness, it makes them feel not quite so “good” anymore.  It makes you feel icky, it makes you second guess yourself, and it makes you reassess and ask yourself why you want to do these acts of goodness in the first place.

But, once you can step outside the dark clouds of that misunderstanding, of that “need” to justify your true intentions, you can feel secure again on your path.  (This has been my experience.) If you can remember that you can only work on bettering yourself, you can stay on your path of goodness.  People may not always appreciate what you do, and they may even misread you completely, but if you stay true to your intention of coming from that place of love and goodness, you will always be on the right path.

We have to remember  that we can’t control how others choose to view or perceive us.  We can, however,take charge of ourselves, utilizing everyday lessons and experiences to improve ourselves everyday.  And “IMPROVEMENT starts with “I.”  If I am consciously working on making myself a better me, then I know I am on the right path.

So, this post shares with you a little more depth than others, but I wanted to share with you all some of the personal things that I have experienced recently on my “365 Journey.” Maybe you can gain a little insight from my experiences too?!  Anyways, this concludes my “Deep Thoughts” section of the blog, stay tuned for further updates as they arise