One. Good. Deed.

So I’ve written a lot of blogs and the focus often revolves around my crap and what I’ve done to try to get out of it, but that seems to be just a little too much about me. Let’s do something a little different.  Why don’t we talk about what would happen if we truly, every day tried to make a little change for good.  I’ve written ‘Do+ Good’ recently.  I’ve talked about ‘Getting Up’, and I’ve talked about the things that make me tick and help me to be motivated to face each day. But what if it doesn’t take some big gesture, or some message from above, or some scripture that you may or may not believe in.  What if making a difference comes from doing one good deed?  Every day.  For a week, a month, or year.  What if we could take a moment and just think outside ourselves?  What if we could say to ourselves “you know what, there’s a bigger world than my depression, than my alcoholism, than my codependent behaviors”?

Back in 2002 I saw the movie “Pay it Forward”.  Helen Hunt, Kevin Spacey and that little kid who got a ton of work around that time, you know the one from “the Sixth Sense”.  And I cried as I watched the community rally behind what started as a small gesture – and saw it grow into a movement that was televised in the film across the nation.  I don’t know that we need something that big.  And I can’t fathom accomplishing something as big as the movie portrays.  But I think I can do one good thing each day.  And hope that my small gesture helps.

So here’s my challenge… I am seriously asking each and every one of you (all four of you that read this blog)… Go tomorrow and keep your eyes aware… Find something that speaks to you, from someone that needs help, or an animal that needs rescuing, or maybe it’s just simply serving somewhere when you really would rather just go home and take a nap.  Do one good deed.  This isn’t about faith or about religion or about a higher calling, it’s just being part of a bigger community.  Some say it takes a village, but I’m just asking you to remind yourself that it’s not about us and our families.  It’s not all about “me”.  That the opportunity to reach down and give a helping hand to someone makes us better.  It makes us grow.  It allows us to not wallow.  And I know I’ve done a damn lot of wallowing.  Too much damn wallowing!

Without realizing it I started this about three weeks ago.  It wasn’t every day, but I found that I was hearing subtle leadings that led me to do something.  And maybe that’s all it takes.  But I think it’s deeper than that.  I’m asking you to do this for a week.  Find something good that speaks to your heart.  It may be hard at first, but I guarantee you they will be there.

Today we were on a bike ride on the silver comet trail out in West Georgia.  At around 2 miles into the ride one of the ladies in our group fell hard and hit her head on the concrete, scraped up her knee and arm, and was out.  Not passed out, but she was done riding for the day, slightly dizzy, shaken.  Instead of us canceling the ride, two of us took the time to get her back on her feet.  I walked her back to her car and made sure was safe and OK to drive.  I also managed to not run over her head after she went down, considering I was right behind her when it happened. That would’ve been a little bad (though it has been stated that in group outings with the AOC there is an unofficial 10% attrition rate).

Over the last three weeks I’ve been able to give grocery money, to help someone get back to real life from a pretty hard place, to help my parents move, to see the smile of appreciation from someone who lit up when I handed her one of my prized ukuleles.  A musician friend, who has done so much for me that I felt like I should give back to her.  We don’t know when we’re going to touch someone’s life.  But unless you try it’s never going to happen.

So take my challenge!

For the next week, look for one thing each day.  Be intent on going outside your comfort zone.  It’s amazing.  Instead of focusing on myself, I’m looking for that right person who might need someone to talk to, help with directions, or need a hot meal.

One week.

One good deed.

Each and every day.