JKB | Hello | Hola

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I came to a small highlighted box while reading a high school social science book. In that box, a dialogue between Socrates and his friend is mentioned. The dialogue was about what goodness is and what evilness is.

Socrates asked, "Do you know what is goodness?"

His friend replied, "Doing good to good people and bad to bad people"

Socrates asked,"Can you give me an example"

The friend replied, "It is about doing good to your good people like friends, and family and bad to enemies who can harm you"

Socrates asked, "Can you define goodness without comparing it with badness?"

His friend replied, "It will be hard for me to define it without seeing it in the context of badness"

Socrates answered, "If one does bad to the enemy, doesn't it mean that goodness or humanness is deteriorated in the doer"

His friend was amazed at Socrates's answer. He nodded and accepted that goodness is individual and doesn't need to be associated with something. And also noted that goodness is a universal phenomenon, doing the opposite of goodness will only deteriorate the quality of human life, hence even to the enemy - goodness is preferred to maintain this essence.

In my daily life, I try to do as good as possible, these small gestures can make someone's day. I remember one of my colleagues, who was very junior to me was also amazed like Socrates's friend when I gently asked when she would be free as I wanted to have a word with her. When she came back the first thing she said was that asking for the time made her feel respected and worthy. Nobody in the premises here treats Junior like this and I replied then do the same with others. Let them also feel how much respected they are and how deserving they are for their work and social life.

While walking on the road, handing a bottle of water to a random stranger who looks exhausted, treating the delivery agent with utmost respect showing compassion, and empathizing with the one who unintentionally cost you a small thing makes their day. As small as sharing a one-time meal can make someone feel that this world is a creation of god and that god is caring through multiple hands.

Another instance was when I and my friend went to eat at a new restaurant that was empty. The newly opened restaurant was unknown to many and generally, people came to pick up a bottle of chocolate. That down in the aura of that restaurant owner can be felt from outside the restaurant. I and my friend started eating at that place and this made the owner happy. We kept going to that place and soon the owner became our friend as well.

Now after 4 years, the restaurant is busy on working days and hardly one can find a chair to sit on and eat. During such instances when the owner sees me or my friend entering his restaurant, he gets up from his counter takes us from the gate for a sit, and starts talking about how excellent the restaurant is running these days. Goodness is contagious, it spreads and has long-lasting effects.

Thank you!

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