WHAT is a good deed? An act of charity? Yes, very much! Helping a total stranger in any small way? Well, that too. What else? Okay, clearly it's impossible to make an exhaustive list of all the good acts possible. So how can we answer the question- What is a good deed?
In a nutshell, I'd say a good deed is an act that-
~ brings joy and satisfaction to you,
~ more often than not brings joy to those around you and
~ is never accompanied by guilt.
Recently, I went on a pilgrimage to Iran, Iraq and Syria. My whole family was there alongside a hundred odd other people. We had to spend eight long hours at Tehran airport on our way back. I took my wheelchair-ridden grandmother to show around the place. I took her to a cafe to eat. It offered lemon tarts, chocolate cakes, sandwiches and many other delectable delights. There was a guy sitting there who was watching me trying to explain to my confused grandma the apparently weird delicacies that the place offered. He probably was an employee of the cafe itself. Perceiving that she wasn't quite comfortable with any of the dishes, he gave us his own lunch-pack without taking so much as a penny. I don't speak any Persian but I think he asked my grandmother to remember him in her prayers. It was an act of generosity that I'll never forget. Also, everyone else present at the place was clearly touched by the gesture. It brought smiles all around. I really relished that meal. Yes, it gave me joy!
Why should I do good? Simply because it delights me! Every time I do something good, my conscience becomes a tad clearer and my perception of myself improves. A question arises- "If we do good only to make ourselves look better, is it against the ‘good’ spirit?". It depends on whether you're trying to improve your perception of yourself or to please others. No matter what you do, you can not please everyone. However, it's very satisfying if you do it just for yourself. Only then can you truly enjoy it. Moreover, we are all responsible for our own happiness. I cannot possibly think of a better way to find happiness and satisfaction in life. A good deed is therefore, it's own reward.
“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give,” said Winston Churchill. We all look to make a difference in this world. To start with, we can help those around us in whatever small way we can. In the process, we do a lot more good to ourselves, and the one person in the world most affected by your charity will be yourself!
