A whole year of doing good

I read some of the actual book on the "Look Inside" feature on Amazon. It sounds good. I like the way it's written. Think it would be very curl-up-able-with.

If only I didn't have so many books piled up waiting to be read on my Kindle!

Ooh! Just seen on Twitter - Cari's reading it at this very minute. #wishiwasinbed

There's a bloke that comes to see me now and again (no, not like that!!) and he often stays for a cup of tea. He has a lot of problems of his own, but sometimes he goes busking to get money for a cup of coffee in town and perhaps a sandwich; any extra money he makes he often hands on to Oxfam or one of the other charity shops in town. I'll bet anything that very few people will know about that - and yet I know that many people will look at him and judge him as a 'scrounger' (he's not, he has severe and enduring mental problems). He does good deeds because, at heart, he's a good person.

To me bragging is something else, e.g. telling people how clever you are, that's bragging, or how well you excel at sport, or how much money you have. Telling people about something good that you've done, is to share the happiness, not to brag. Well for me, anyway.

In my experience the people who tell you about the good they have done are the same ones who brag about other things and they often tell you the same thing again and again. Sometimes the good deeds come out naturally in converstaion as in GA's post and I think that is fine but if they come out in an I'm such a good person way then I don't like it.

Agree moved that's what I mean.

Didn't Jesus say 'Do good by stealth'?
(Knowing the Bible is a very useful for a Humanist.)

To be fair, she's only written a book about the year when she decided to actually do this. She's not showing off. She found it an interesting time in her life, and decided to write about it. If you've got the ability, why not?

I'd imagine it's interesting to read about people's attitide to her kindness. I don't want to sound nasty but over the years I've found that, if you go out of your way for some people they then expect you to carry on doing so and will then ask you to do various things without making the effort to do it themselves. Not everyone, I hasten to add, but just some [and they are in a minority].

Tegan I know exactly what you mean! If they are perfectly capable of doing stuff for themselves I tend to drop them after a while.

Hi Judith I am very interested in reading your story and have ordered the book. I think its great that you took time out of your own BUSY life of being a Mother of three. I think your Mother is an amzing women and came from a time when people just got on with it and battled through but never gave up.

You say in your blog that it has not made a difference to the world but maybe if you asked the people that you helped, they may have a different take on it, especially the family that you cooked diner for.

Personally I think it should be made into a Documentry as it would be amazing to actually see peoples faces when you turned up t help.

All the best with the book.

annodomoni you are of course correct Jesus did say not to brag about any good that you do.

I would like to think however that in this case Jesus would be ok with it in hope that it may inspire others to do the same as The Author.

I must remember not to linger on any pavements looking too much like a little old lady in case I get helped across the road - especially if I don't want to cross it

I've had that when I've been waiting for my taxi!

re ariadne: exactly
re bags: i am responsible for many things, thread titles not being one of them
re grrrranny: fair enough, i respect everyone's right to hold a different opinion to my own. What I will say though as a general point is there are plenty of people out there having a go at me doing what I did (when I came off radio 5 where I had been talking about encouraging people to have their own jam jars and collect loose change for charity, I was met with a tweet directly into my stream telling me I made someone sick.) I am willing to hazard those people aren't the ones who stand first in line to help someone out.
re grannyknot: thanks for that. i did stuff during the year which did not go in the book
re ana: is it a brag to write a book? I am a writer. I write about what I think and do.
Right I will put up six copies of the book. Contact me through my email at [email protected]. Read the book. Trash the book if you want after you have read it. Call me a braggart then if you want, or pious, or smug or whatever you feel. It may confirm you in your opinions and that is fine if it does. It may - takes intake of breath - change your opinions. How about reading it? Then you can come back and say "Aha. It was exactly as I suspected." Any takers ladies?

Actually, judith, I was talking in general terms about doing good and not bragging about it. I haven't read your book so I wasn't accusing you of bragging.

Judith yes please I would like one !

Hi Judith, I would love a copy of your book will email you too ...

I like your challenge, Judith. If the six books have not been claimed already, I should like to take up the challenge. Email on its way.

Judith fair point about being a writer - it's what you do. So the guy who wrote about going around all the shipping forecast areas (can't think of name or title of book - got the Sundays) did exactly the same and I didn't think 'Ha ha, he only did that to get material for his book' although I knew he did. So it's the suject matter that got to me I suppose. Doing good deeds. It is obviously just my thinking then as I am a product of a calvanistic, somewhat dour, and certainly undemonstative upbringing as I really believe good deeds should not be broadcast. Not that I believe in any reward in heaven!!!

I admire you for posting back on here and wish you excellent sales for your book.

re ana; okay no problem
re grrrrranny: interesting, we all come to this issue with our preconceptions and motivations. thanks re good wishes
thanks too for the emails books are on their way. onwards and upwards.

re ana; okay no problem
re grrrrranny: interesting, we all come to this issue with our preconceptions and motivations. thanks re good wishes
thanks too for the emails books are on their way. onwards and upwards.

I won't ask for a copy. Like I say, I've got loads waiting to be read. #lesstimeonGNwouldhelp

They've got it in Tesco (2 books for £7.00 offer). I might buy it.