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200 words, caring, community, Diana Schwenk, Diana's Enormous Book of Quotes, good character, goodness, growing up, happy, health, integrity, living in the moment, Purpose, service, Who I am
Waste no time debating what a good man should be. Be one ~ Marcus Aurelius
How do you ‘be good’?
Have you ever been caught up in a conversation about what it means to be a good person?
Or found yourself going back and forth in a thought loop about it?
I know I have.
Maybe it’s because I’ve been conditioned to do so. You know, like in a job when you want to do something good.
You plan.
You build strategies.
You implement.
You monitor.
And tweak as you go along?
That’s all fine and dandy at work, but is that all there is to it when you want to be a good person?
I’ve been thinking about this since reading the above quote and in light of choosing service as my word for 2015.
Maybe it’s as simple as the difference between doing good and being good.
Doing good in a work setting, takes planning.
Being good is more of a character trait that is developed over time…
…acting in the moment, from the core of who you are, when an opportunity presents itself.
~ DIANA’S ENORMOUS BOOK OF QUOTES ~
What do you think?
talktodiana 
Absolutely! Doing good is a specific, single act. Being good is a position in life.
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Thanks Smitty!
Diana xo
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Diana, I like your quotes, and I hope you really are putting them into a book. Being good is a choice. I think people can tell if we’ve meant well. And good-willed people will forgive us when we fall short of our good intentions. Only one Man (Christ) was perfectly good. So the rest of us need to show grace to one another cause we ain’t perfect. But we’re brothers and sisters. ❤
Blessings & hugs ~ Wendy ❀
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I’ve often thought that as well Wendy and yes showing grace to each other is key. ❤
Diana xo
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Diana those who do good, the ones who make an effort to help others, usually do not speak of their generosity. Although there are doers and then there are people who make others feel good, just with a smile or a kind word. There are so many edges to this goodness thing. I guess if you do the best you can on any given day its okay by me.
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Sounds like a good standard Kath! ❤
Diana xo
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I really like the quote–and your thoughtful ideas about what being good means. I’ve pondered similar questions.
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Thanks Sheryl for reading my post and commenting. Appreciate your encouragement!
Diana xo
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I think we need to aim high, and not be too hard on ourselves if we sometimes fall short.
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sounds like a personal vision statement to me Elizabeth! ❤
Diana xo
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That is a good point… I will think about that one.
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Maybe part of being good when being of service, etc., is listening well. And responding in a way that doesn’t deter from a good strategies that the other party has already agreed with.
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Listening is definitely a good thing Jean. I remember reading once that we have two ears and one mouth, we should use them in proportion. 🙂
Diana xo
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Great analogy!
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Diana … I love your quote by Marcus Aurelius. It’s motivating. For me, it says we have to do more than talk the talk. In our rush here, rush there world, it’s something to even stop, look and listen to what’s going on around us … and, then, respond by doing the right thing. For me, I’m just a work in progress and self doubts do make me ponder your question. 😉
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You’re so right Judy. We rush here and there and for what? Most of the time, for me anyway, a lot of the reasons are not that important in the grander scheme of things… ❤
Diana xo
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I have never thought about what it takes to be a good girl, I just happen to think I am mostly a good girl I try to be good but of course I fail at times
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You’re a great woman Jo-Anne; a good daughter, sister, wife and mother. ❤
Diana xo
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I love that quote. Actions always say more than debating or talking about it! Marcus Aurelius has some super quotes! He was a wise man!
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Which is always better than a wise guy, eh? 😉
Diana xo
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Great Quote Diana! xo
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Thanks Andy!
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Love the quote Diana, no time for debating! We need to act. Love your word “Service” for the year too. 🙂
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Thanks Karen! Or should I say Action Karen? 😉 ❤
Diana xo
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Thank you for doing AND being good, Diana.
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Thank you Russ. I want to be good. I think most folks do, don’t you? Doesn’t always work, so you try again the next time. ❤
Diana xo
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I relate the word good as the opposite of wrong. But doing good is associated with assisting others in whatever way you are able. It is important that we keep a balance in our lives when it comes to being of service lest we become human doings instead of human beings. If I give the man in the parking lot some money, I never think about what he is going to do with it. That isn’t my business. What is my business is that I felt to help that person at that time. I don’t know. It is a deeper subject than I ever thought. Thanks Diana 😊
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I like that Patty. In the moment you felt to help the person. ❤
Diana xo
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I am thinking on the post, and the comments. Good is a way to ‘be’, doesn’t mean we’re perfect. Which is where the tweaking comes in. To me it’s about observing myself, being aware. And learning from others. Often I’ve seen how someone else has handled something and known that I would not have handled it as well, but know that in the future because of someone else’s ‘goodness’ I might do better. You wouldn’t think there could be so much discussion, action, contemplation around ‘good’ and ‘goodness’. But there’s a lot of good to consider in all of this. 🙂
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I love that you learn through the example of others as well as your own experiences Colleen. ❤
Diana xo
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Keep teaching me Diana! 🙂
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🙂 We’re all just walking each other home…
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Beautiful.
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Like your thoughts. Occurs to me too that a ‘good’ person isn’t perfect.
Being a good person is as much about recognising our less good aspects and trying to improve.
And forgiving oneself and others when they are less than good.
As well as a whole heap of other things!
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So very true dodgysurfer – welcome to talktodiana and thank you for your thoughtful comment. ❤
Diana xo
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I like this, I like this very much. Thank you !
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Diana, Great post. The last line is very telling.
When we say an apple is a good apple, we mean that is tastes good.
When we say someone is a good man or woman, we speak of there character, integrity and very soul.
Humans can reflect upon themselves. The apple can not; it is what it is.
Men and women can show outward signs of goodness, yet within be the opposite.
A man who helps the homeless may at home be abusive. So the validity of goodness is in its consistancy no matter what the circumstances, place or time. Often the inconsistancy is never meant to be seen. Yet it is known by the self and the One.
For as one thinks, so he acts. And as one acts, so he thinks. May all one’s acts and thoughts be always virtuous. Therein lies goodness.
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Thanks for your thoughtful comment Alan. Doesn’t it say somewhere else that what is hidden will be revealed? I guess if a person is true to themselves and others , they have less to worry about at the reveal? ❤
Diana xo
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Diana, this post and you (1) are good and (2) do good.
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Thanks Ann, not sure If I’m good or not. I am searching though. ❤
Diana xo
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I think being a good person needs both planning and spontaneity, Diana. You can arrange it, but you certainly can’t fake it.
Have a great Sunday, my good friend. 🙂 ❤
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Happy Sunday to you Mark! You may be right there. The focus for me right now seems to be on the spontaneity one, it especially seems to be in the forefront with the word service for some reason.
You know…do I give the homeless guy in front of me my change without judging how he will spend it? Do I stay and talk to someone who bursts into tears when I ask how are you, even though I’m rushing to an important appointment? How do I respond in the moment without having expectations on how goodness is received?
haha the harder I try to explain, the more convoluted it sounds – so I will stop now. ❤
Diana xo
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No, no, I understand exactly what you mean, Diana. You must judge at that second if your service is of more importance to them than it is to yourself. And that’s not an easy call to make. Nor a fair one, for either party, mostly. But it’s a call we all face many times every day. Yes, I get it for sure.
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😀 Definitely. What an insightful perspective!
I was thinking, too, about times I’ve been offered something I need, like money from my parents for example, and how they gave it to me without condition and trusted me to make it work for my situation.
Wow TRUST, now that’s a word I’ve crashed into many times!
Anyway, it’s situations like that that have meant the most to me and when I’ve made the right decision, have been the most impactful.
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You build up trust in yourself, to use your own great and special work and perspective, Diana!
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Being good is a judgment … and interpreted in different ways based on our beliefs about what it means.
For me, I would say I want to be true to my higher self.
I really like being of service Diana!
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I hear what you’re saying Val. I’m still good with the word good though and what it means to me. What if someone’s true self is evil or selfish?
Diana xo
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The true self comes from the divine or consciousness itself. It cannot be evil or selfish. … and yes, I would call it good in this context 😉
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That is a wonderful way to think about it Val – thank you. The true self is not selfish or evil. I like that! ❤
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good, gooder, goodest – we always need to keep in mind that we need not do it for ourselves, but to be good we need to be a bit selfless.
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Yes, I agree Bill! Thanks for stopping by, that was good of you. 😉
Diana xo
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Some places are the goodest to visit 🙂
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I’ve definitely thought about it. I try. Sometimes I miss, but I try. I don’t know, but I think being good is a phrase that makes me squinty, too many overtures of “be a good girl.” Maybe it’s a product of repeatedly doing good.
Nice food for thought. 🙂
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haha squinty, I can see that mrs. f!
Yes. repeatedly or consistently doing good would then become part of who you are, right? ❤
Diana xo
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