I don't know if sharing advice with others is a God-given talent or just a skill I've picked up over time, but I know this for sure. I really like telling other people what they should do. And I really do know quite a few things. And I really do think I'm right most of the time. And I know all of this sounds very conceited and snobbish. I'm really not either of those things (though I do think more people should know me - hee hee!).
Whether right of wrong, I find myself sharing advice with others on a daily (probably hourly) basis. Most people likely benefit from my advice. Some are surely annoyed by my regular dose of advice. Who cares? At least here you can choose to take my advice, discard my advice, or just ignore it. I can share as much as I'd like. You can take it or leave it. A win-win for everyone!
So to start 2011 (I'm sure it's the Year Of Advice on the Chinese calendar), here is my first piece of advice......
"Do a Good Turn Daily"
My son is a Webelos Cub Scout getting ready to move into Boy Scouts. He is working on memorizing the Scout Slogan which is "Do A Good Turn Daily". He wasn't sure what that meant initially and we've been talking about it quite a bit. Our family tends to "do a good turn regularly" but daily requires special attention and thought. It's easy in our culture to ignore things that can be done for others when we don't feel we have the time or energy. But even a small "good turn" can be of great significance to another.
Did I do a good turn today? Well, not anything that I'd write home about but I did spend several hours on a volunteer project for my daughters' school. I used skills God blessed me with to complete a project others felt was too difficult and time consuming. For me it was easy. The outcome of this project should result in increased enrollment at their school (in turn keeping my tuition payments affordable).
Did I do a good turn for anyone in my home today? I tried to be more patient with my children and say "yes" more often than "no". I allowed a child to go on a playdate and another to play with his neighbor friend for over two hours. And I let all the kids have ice cream even though I would have preferred to get them to bed early. Does that count?
Can I continue to do a good turn for someone tomorrow?
Can you do a good turn for someone tomorrow?
Can we keep this up for a week, a month, a year, a lifetime?
Some advice to consider.
I embrace the idea of doing a good turn daily. Although not a conscious plan, I try to do this also. Maybe if everyone had to keep a journal of their good turns (like good dieters keep a food journal), the whole world would benefit by added good turns! It's like doing the opposite of the Act of Contrition (by failing to do wrong and choosing to do right...), so you can count anything you did right or chose not to do wrong! The Scouts have the right idea, but I guess God holds the patent on the doing good plan!
ReplyDeleteThanks "J"! You know how you frame the first dollar you make at a business? You are my first comment so I think I'll print it off and frame it. Or maybe that would just be weird.
ReplyDeleteInterestingly, my original blog idea was to do a daily journal of good deeds. I agree that it helps you stay accountable.
Awesome, Meghan! I've subscribed to your blog in my reader -- will look forward to your words of wisdom on a regular basis!!
ReplyDeleteBlogging is fun -- you'll enjoy it. ;)
Great Job, Meghan! I'm your first "follower" You are a step ahead of me; I have a blog that no one else reads :-) I type an entry, decide it's stupid later and then delete it!
ReplyDeleteLove the idea of doing a good turn daily - too bad showing up for work 5 days a week really doesn't "count."
Have fun with the blog - I'll be watching you!