There is a scene at the end, when King Ezekiel explains his kingdom to Carol, “I found a way to deal with the bad, by going a little bit overboard with the good.”
I nodded quietly -I understood. I am there myself, have felt like that many times before. King Ezekiel, of course, is not real, he is a fictional character in the TV series “The Walking Dead.”
“Why would you watch a television series about Zombies?” I have been asked this question many times, and the explanation is simple. It’s not about the zombies, they are a footnote, the series is about humankind fighting for survival. In the series everything we have in our everyday lives is gone, there is no government, no internet, no airports, no TV and no cell phones. Regular, ordinary people become survivors and heroes, some of them become villains. Just like in real life, people have different characters and personalities; some are good, some turn out to be evil. Some raise to the occasion, while others crumble.
On TV humans are fighting against each other, stealing from each other to gain personal profit in the form of secure housing, medications, and food. Other’s help each other in times of need.
“I found a way to deal with the bad, by going a little bit overboard with the good.” That’s a pretty good recipe to make life a little bit brighter.
Isn’t that what we all should do?
Going overboard with the good is a brilliant principle. Why don’t we? It doesn’t have to be big, and it doesn’t have to cost a lot of money.
We live in scary times and our Holiday planning is in full swing. Our “Friendsgiving” this year will be bigger than usual. We will serve more dishes than last year, and we will include the homeless in our turkey-leftover program -thanks to a new friend I made.
Our neighbor across the street knows that this will be her last Holiday Season, her cancer has spread. She is in good spirit, and her smile is contagious as always; she and her family will celebrate the Holidays a little bit bigger this year, and I will be happily part of it.
We all need good memories to deal with the everyday crap that is thrown at us; bad times make us yearn for the good.
Invite your neighbors and have a cookie party this year or have a coat and blanket drive for the homeless. Provide a family in need with food or buy Christmas cards and give them to people who don’t have a family. Invite a coworker into your home, who would celebrate alone. The possibilities are endless; the reward is incredible.
Let’s go overboard with the good!
Love this.. Paying is forward.. 🙂 I am reminded of the Beach Boys song Good Vibrations.. Keep them coming Bridget xx <3
This encapsulates one of the best “attitudes of gratitude” I have ever seen!
I felt the same way, the minute I heard it . It’s my new mantra.
Yes, absolutely Bridget – let’s go overboard with the good! Wonderful post, thank you! 🙂
Wonderful post, Bridget. That’s exactly what we all need to do. And you’re right, it doesn’t cost anything to be extra kind.
LOVE this!! I think it may become my Mantra 🙂 along with Screw it, let’s do it!!
“Going overboard with the good,” it makes sense, doesn’t it.
As for “Screw it, let’s do it,” that’s one of my favorite statements. 🙂
I like that … go overboard with the good. Great plan <3
This year our Christmas will include another of my son's 'orphaned' friends whose family is on the other side of the country. Our 'family' Christmas has been growing every year and I love it. I WILL go overboard on the good 🙂
Your Holidays sound like a lot of fun. I am glad you open your homes for friends as well. I am not surprised at all. 🙂
I really need a MUCH bigger house. We celebrate Christmas over 2 days so everyone spends the night here on Christmas Eve – both family and friends.
It is pandemonium and by the end of it, I’m exhausted. I really need to learn how to adopt a *whatever* attitude!
I know what you mean. I am stuck at the “Whatever” beginner class since a while, moving on from there seems to be hard. 🙂
I don’t think it’s in our personalities …
we give a damn 😉
I stress myself out by trying to have everything perfect. I stress myself out and I am exhausted during the Holidays.
Me too … to the point where I stop enjoying it.
I got reprimanded by Gilles yesterday because he said I was already starting to obsess. He was right.
There are a lot of lonely people out there. A few ago I decided to send every one a Christmas card that is in my plans for this year. You are so right. Let’s do all the good we can. I am trying to help my self.
THINK – FRIENDLY, NOT ANGRY
I AM PRAYING FOR PEACE!
Years back, when money was tight, I bought a bunch of Christmas cards in a resale shop and gave them to homeless people. Their reaction was such a surprise for me.