Vail Valley: When good things happen to good people
Vail, CO, Colorado
We’re all familiar with the questions, “why do bad things happen to good people?” and “why do good things happen to bad people?”
If you care to engage with me in a discussion about either of those two questions send me an e-mail. For now I want to focus on another question – “When do good things happen to good people?”
I believe the world is full of good people who work hard, try hard, and have the very best of intentions in all or most of what they do. I also know that many of these kind-hearted people continue to serve the greater good without expectations of any kind of reward.
Other folks may point to them and say things like, “John really deserves a break,” or “Mary is overdue for something special to happen in her life.” Meanwhile John and Mary and all of the rest of the truly good people go quietly and unassumingly about their business.
So part of the answer is simple – good things happen to good people when they least expect it.
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The next part of the answer comes from planning and preparing with a purpose in life. That is not to say that goodness is rewarded to those who only set goals and plan for success, but when good things do happen to good people many times it’s because they have engineered their lives and set their course for success around how they live, work, worship, and play. They operate from a foundation of integrity and live in a manner that will allow good things to happen in their lives more often than not.
Finally, good things happen to good people because they seek goodness and usually surround themselves with other good-finders. They look for the good and watch for opportunities to serve. They believe in hope, operate with purpose, pursue their purpose with passion, and accept that joy is who they are and where they are right now. If something else good happens for them that’s great, and if not, life is already a blessing full of love, happiness, and opportunity.
Zig Ziglar says “Every day is a great day – if you don’t think so just try missing one.”
Life is too short to worry about why good things happen to bad people. Bad things do happen to bad people too. What goes around comes around.
Bad things will sometimes happen to good people – it is just a part of life. But if we think of Zig’s quote, and embrace the goodness that can be found in each and every day our lives will be so much richer, fulfilling and fun.
Good things happen when we least expect them, when we plan and prepare for them, and when we seek goodness in and around all areas of our lives.
Thanks again for all of the e-mails. They mean a lot to me and I would love to hear about all the good things happening to all the good people you know – especially you – at msnorton@comcast.net and let’s make it a better than good week.
Michael Norton is a strategic consultant, business and personal coach and motivational speaker, and CEO of http://www.candogo.com. He writes a weekly motivational column for the Vail Daily.
