Note - Okay, so this is cheating my “write something new every night” ethos, but I’m tired and need a little break. I actually published this on my previous blog, but never had the feeling many people read it. Which is fine. But I liked it, and wanted to share it again. So if you’ve read it already, feel free to skip, though I did edit and add little things. If you haven’t read it before, then enjoy. Hopefully.
“Now, go do something good.”
Those are the words with which “The Good Place The Podcast” host (and actor – he plays Shawn) Marc Evan Jackson closes every episode of the show. It’s a pleasant notion – the thought of doing something good – but when Jackson says it there’s a small hint of an order. No, really, go do something good.
I love that podcast, and the TV show “The Good Place” very, very much. I have rewatched the entire four-season run several times and have listened to most of the episodes of the podcast itself several times. I’m a fan. I heard many times, “now, go do something good.” Apologies for the cliche, but I remember the exact time when those words really hit me. They always hit, but there was one moment when they stuck.
Come to think of it, maybe I don’t remember exactly. I know it centered around the season 2 finale of “The Good Place.” I don’t know if it was watching the episode, or when I listened to the podcast about the episode. It may have been both. But I feel guilty saying I remember the exact moment, when I don’t REALLY remember. I know I was on my couch, and after finishing the show or podcast, I sat there and stared up at the ceiling with two phrases stuck in my head. Now, go do something good, and what we owe to each other.
The latter is the title of a book by T.M. Scanlon, which plays a prominent role in the show “The Good Place.” Unsurprising confession: I have not read the book, and am likely not nearly smart enough to read or understand it. For some reason that night, the title alone stuck with me, in concert with the idea of doing something good as prompted by Mr. Jackson.
That night, I came up with a plan to go do something good, as I defined it, based on my notion of what we owe to each other. There were three components, but in essence it boiled down to putting good energy in the world.
The first part was clear in my head, and the most concrete notion of owing things to other people. I committed to finding ways to tell my friends and family, often, that I loved them and appreciated them. I recently saw this described in in a new-year feature for the New York Times (which I might also be writing about soon) as a living eulogy. That seems a little bleaker then I wanted, but the spirit is about right. It seemed to me, this was the very LEAST we owe to each other. To make sure the people unfortunate enough to be in my orbit know how much I care about them. The idea was to do something unexpectedly kind for one member of this group once a month. Crucially, whatever gift, or idea I came up with also had to include some sort of note expressing appreciation, love, or just a thank you. There were a fair number of gift cards involved or other random items and generally finding any reason to do nice things for people I care about. In an effort to ensure this endeavor didn’t fall by the wayside, I planned to do at least one such contact per month, figuring this would make me focus.
My hope – beyond simply doing nice things for people – was that putting good energy into the world would ripple out. Call it my own little version of the manipulative but somewhat affecting movie “Pay It Forward.” But with much less Kevin Spacey.
Focus and prompt action were at the heart of the second part of my plan. If you’re like me, there are many causes, actions, or organizations doing great work that could use financial support, but there are so many it’s hard to choose, or the timing isn’t right. Similarly you might sometimes get an idea of something a person you know might like, but it’s not the holidays or a birthday so you let it pass. Instead of that, I resolved to try and not wait, or stall, or make excuses, but act. Something is always better than nothing. Lots of organizations worth supporting, so pick one and support it. Right now. Not later, when you will have more time, or when things settle down, or when the perfect time arises. Do it now, and then maybe do more later. It seems to me that there might “possibly” be some relevance to this concept at the moment, given certain recent events. But there doesn’t need to be some specific inspiring event. Just do it when you can. Something is always better than nothing.
Finally, the last component of my do something good/what we owe to each other agenda was more typical random acts of kindness genre. But because I was thinking about it, there was an intention to the action. Some favorites included trying to let people go in front of me in traffic. Leaving more money than people might expect in a tip jar. Picking up trash that wasn’t mine. Returning the shopping cart at the store. Opportunities exist all over the place for this sort of kindness if the willingness is there. I was less worried about consistency in this one and just doing things when the mood struck, but I did have the idea in my head a lot and tried to keep finding ways to be creative. Hopefully once the notion is planted in the head, it’s easy to see small or big opportunities all around us.
There you have it. One man’s treatise on what doing good means to him. Two points of self awareness I feel I should make. One, I wholeheartedly recognize this entire mission comes from a place of privilege, both financial and mental. For many, they simply might not have the resources or mental bandwidth to take this on. I’m fortunate enough that I do. Second, I admit there is something, superficial, for lack of a better word, about having a TV show and podcast inspire a quest for good works. I’m choosing to focus on what I hope have been the positive results rather than be embarrassed by the motivations.
As self-serving as all this is, ever since I had that moment on the couch several years ago, I’ve wanted to share it – in hopes that it might resonate and inspire others. My plan doesn’t have to be your plan, but I hope anyone taking the time to read this feels a desire to do more. The method is less important than the message. If you don’t want to send a gift, send a letter. Can’t afford to donate to a cause, then donate your time. Think about what YOU think we owe to each other. Then, with apologies to Mr. Jackson, go do something good. It’s your turn. Let’s all do something good together.