No Good Deed

I think that the person who coined the phrase "no good deed goes unpunished" was probably self-seeking in their good-deeding. To me, the phrase implies that the good you do for others will inevitably go unnoticed or unappreciated and have a negative effect (punishment) on you and your emotions.  Well, that just doesn't make much sense to me.

Don't get me wrong! In the past, there have been times when I've done good things for others and was offended or hurt when my goodness wasn't reciprocated or met with gratitude.  One day I had to ask myself why my feelings were getting hurt so often behind doing good for others. I realized that goodness with strings attached wasn't really goodness at all.  I began striving to do good things for others without looking for anything, not so much as a thank you, in return.  And, ever since that attitude change, I've been a lot happier!

I am free to do good things for others simply because I want to show them some love and not to get some love in return.  And I believe that is how we all should be; secure enough to love others whether they love us back or not.

So, I hereby submit that the aforementioned phrase is a bunch of horse manooda!  Do good because you want to be good to someone, not to get good in return!  I believe you'll be a lot happier for it!

Thanks for listening.