Ever heard of the acronym “ARK” – Act of Random
Kindness? I have heard it said numerous times. My question usually is, “why
random?” Why not “PAG” – Purposive Act of Goodness?
Today I am endeared towards speaking about a delicate
matter – choosing to do just but one thing and sticking to it.
First you have to identify one good thing that you
can offer to yourself, to others and to humanity as a gift. Humanity comes with
a whole package of virtues and other deeds that are meant to be nurtured for
the benefit of self and others. I am inclined to believe that we all mean good
(at least most of the times), apart from those isolated days that we are seized
and out-powered by the temptation to do evil or just not to do good. There are
those moments when we don’t necessarily exhibit that goodness when dealing with
ourselves and even with others. No wonder our reputation always goes either
before us or behind us. We can choose how and when this reputation should be
invoked. You see your reputation is either an richly attractive fragrance that
lasts in people’s hearts whether you are around them or away from them. But it
can also be a bad odour that people don’t want to confront!
BE KIND
The choice of kindness (which isn’t as easy an act in
our generation) can be invoked by practicing this virtue all the time. To
achieve this, one ought to be kind to oneself f. Yes, there are those moments
we are hard on ourselves maybe because of the errors of the past, the lack of
tender care we give to ourselves. This choice of being friendly and considerate
is a genuine ingredient for healthy human relations. Have you ever noticed that
as you arrive at work, that cleaning lady, that watchman, that colleague is
gracious in his/her kindness? Have you been keen to notice how that cobbler who
repaired your broken shoe one time is being sagaciously kind in how he/she
treated you and you were running to work? Do you still notice him exhibiting
the same to other people whenever you pass by? He doesn’t just do that to earn
himself a living but does it to all and sundry? How about that middle-aged lady
who sells grocery and vegetables? She always acts kind whenever you go to
purchase and even gives you a bonus for coming back. Then there is that brother
of yours whom you sometimes wonder whether he swallowed some type of “kindness
pills” that make him act kindly to everyone he meets? While I have known
kindness, I have learnt it better from watching people practice it without
being fazed by the world that appears unkind. If you want to be dressed in kindness,
practice and don’t dare look over your shoulder. Just do it!
BE GENEROUS
Are you a generous type of person whose is willing to
give plenty of something or everything? Do you offer time to others, money to
the needy and give any relevant kind of help? Then do not hesitate to go on and
do it, for it is in giving that you receive a hundred-fold says the Good Book!
Or are you the type that is surprised by those who give and give without
ceasing until you wonder why they are so magnanimous, munificent and lavish? In
my life so far, my mother has been the personification of generosity. I have
observed that she has ability to give most of what she has and even becomes
oblivious of her own needs. Such kind of generosity is not only alarming but
rare in our contemporary world. While this virtue most often put her in trouble
with my late dad, she silently and at times secretly kept giving – she still
unequivocally does! When gently asked what provokes her to do that without
tiring, her response usually is, “I learnt to give. I will always give, why son,
God gives us so that we can give to the others.” Choose to give as a duty. Who
knows what legacy you will be remembered for?
KEEP TIME
People who keep time have always impressed me. I
treasure them and respect them. They do so not because there would be a punishment
if they didn’t keep time, but they know the overwhelming benefit of it. Take
for example you have a business appointment and a social date with someone. It
is almost obvious that the former appointment might be taken “seriously” and
quite a good number of people would rather be in time for the meeting or be
sorry for being late. A social date might be ignored because most people don’t
attach “seriousness” to such an event and keeping time is not a big deal for a
date. For me, on the contrary, it is a big deal! I contend that any event that
has time set for meeting should be respected. Discipline for time keeping can
earn one a great reputation and also help one be readily relied upon in
executing any time-bound goals or missions in life. Woe unto those who don’t
care about keeping time. If your conscience is not moved by lateness for any
kind of appointment that obviously means you don’t value your own time and
other people’s time. Why should you keep someone waiting for you for a whole
thirteen minutes? A thirteen-minute flight would have covered approximately 12,675miles
in those 13 minutes… that is really a big distance above sea level! Ask those
who have missed a flight, like me, what it means not to keep time.
KEEP YOUR WORD
I am clearly reminded of the adage, ‘promises make
dates and dates make promises.’ That is why I have learnt not to deliberately
make a promise that I am not sure I can honour. I have also noted that we most
often take it for granted when we promise people we shall do something. For
example, how many times have you promised or told a friend, relative that you
will call them and never really got to call them? Or promised to catch them on
Facebook, Email, Whatsapp, Text message and never kept your word? While it
sounds so mundane a thing that many people seem to brush off or just ignore, I
find it a violation of the human conduct to say you will do something and you
don’t do it and you are even unapologetic about your failure to keep your word.
I think it is better to shut up your big mouth of empty of promises than keep
it open and yet do nothing about it! In the event that external factors
conspire to prevent you from keeping your word. Just do one thing –
communicate. Tell those that you promised that you could not make it but you
will make it at an alternative time. Choose to keep your word. You will be
remembered for such a gesture that many take for granted.
RESPECT
I am reminded that respect is not necessarily
solicited but it is earned. This means we have to have some level of decency through
an admiration of ourselves and our abilities. Then this air of earned
moderation can enable us recognize the worth in other people and hence strive
to treat them with the same or even more admiration. Self-respect will
definitely lead to respect for others. Perhaps the words of Laurence Sterne can be an encouragement
to many when he said, “Respect for ourselves guides our
morals; respect for others guides our manners” There you
are, choose to practice respect and you will definitely navigate the journey of
life with little to regret but more to be proud of because respect for all
prepares a way for a satisfied life.
Now there could be many good things we can do in this
life; humility, temperance, courage, patience, persistence, honesty and all.
Purposive Act of Goodness is fulfilling something
commonly known as the “rule of the sea”
which simply states that, “Be Good and Do Good”
Come on good people, let us spread this Purposive Act
of Goodness!
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