Two years ago when I was spending nine months living in Vancouver as a retiree, I volunteered at many community events and research studies at the university. My main goal was to keep myself busy. I spent a fairly large amount of money on transportation costs, and did my shifts in places that I had not visited previously. To my chagrin, I did not always feel appreciated, effective or useful. So when I returned to Vancouver last fall after a six month journey, I decided that I would not volunteer at those community events again. I would do something different this time around.
I started the "A good deed a day" project last October. The objective is to build positive karma and not to incur related costs as much as possible. I wanted to do something that would make me happy, and at the same time create a positive impact on other people's lives. For instance, I would clean my friend's apartment where I was staying and cook dinners for my friend before moving into my rental place. When I moved into my rental place, I continued to do house chores everyday.
Before Craigslist eliminated the personal ads this April, I would occasionally "chat" with some lonely, depressed souls from CL. I would encourage them to get out more and remind them of ways of meeting women in person. However, these people are usually beyond help. They seem to use the personal ads on CL for free sex. In many ways, I was happy that CL no longer has personal ads. Perhaps those sexually obsessed men would finally look up and pay for professional escort services. For the the more morally upright, they would find enough courage to meet people in real life. I also think that the minors are somewhat more protected from the pedophiles when the CL personal ads were removed
Other than feeling great when I do something good without expectations, I believe I have also increased the positive vibes/energy about me. Negative incidents do not appear as frequently. Often I found myself at the receiving end. For example, my landlady shares her food with me for no reason at all. People frequently give up their seats for me on crowded buses. I won small amounts of money or a free lottery ticket several times already this year.
While I strive to do at least a good deed a day, I do not aggressively pursue this goal. I believe every little bit counts. When there is no chore to do at the house, I would post news, health advice, original photos and encouraging quotes on social media. A good deed could be a small task like picking up litter from the sidewalks or saying hello to a sad looking stranger at the bus stop. On a micro level, I know the world is better because of my daily effort. If I persist in doing a good deed everyday, it will become my nature. When opportunity knocks on my door, this concept might even enable and empower me to do something great on a grander scale.
Imagine if everyone in the world does a good deed a day, this planet would have been so much better!
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| Karma is a boomerang. |
I started the "A good deed a day" project last October. The objective is to build positive karma and not to incur related costs as much as possible. I wanted to do something that would make me happy, and at the same time create a positive impact on other people's lives. For instance, I would clean my friend's apartment where I was staying and cook dinners for my friend before moving into my rental place. When I moved into my rental place, I continued to do house chores everyday.
Before Craigslist eliminated the personal ads this April, I would occasionally "chat" with some lonely, depressed souls from CL. I would encourage them to get out more and remind them of ways of meeting women in person. However, these people are usually beyond help. They seem to use the personal ads on CL for free sex. In many ways, I was happy that CL no longer has personal ads. Perhaps those sexually obsessed men would finally look up and pay for professional escort services. For the the more morally upright, they would find enough courage to meet people in real life. I also think that the minors are somewhat more protected from the pedophiles when the CL personal ads were removed
Other than feeling great when I do something good without expectations, I believe I have also increased the positive vibes/energy about me. Negative incidents do not appear as frequently. Often I found myself at the receiving end. For example, my landlady shares her food with me for no reason at all. People frequently give up their seats for me on crowded buses. I won small amounts of money or a free lottery ticket several times already this year.
While I strive to do at least a good deed a day, I do not aggressively pursue this goal. I believe every little bit counts. When there is no chore to do at the house, I would post news, health advice, original photos and encouraging quotes on social media. A good deed could be a small task like picking up litter from the sidewalks or saying hello to a sad looking stranger at the bus stop. On a micro level, I know the world is better because of my daily effort. If I persist in doing a good deed everyday, it will become my nature. When opportunity knocks on my door, this concept might even enable and empower me to do something great on a grander scale.
Imagine if everyone in the world does a good deed a day, this planet would have been so much better!
