What is goodness? Learn to find goodness each day.

What is goodness? Learn to find goodness each day. I choose to tie my life’s purpose to goodness. However, don’t you think we sometimes lose sight of our purpose even when using absolute terms? We think, “What is the point of this life of mine?” I live, and I will someday die. We are all mortal. From birth, our journey leads directly to our ultimate demise.

Gloomy, I know. And some of you will have already stopped reading, because to think about death is… off-putting, to say the least. It seems the opposite of that goodness we want to know. Yet, I prefer to explore the inevitable nature of death with a sense of wonder. For me, death is a spark of sorts. It ignites inner enthusiasm. Knowing that death is a certainty means that living my life with purpose is imperative. And for me, goodness plays a crucial role in knowing that purpose. Still, like many of us, I wonder beyond the abstract; to understand my purpose in more specific, goal-oriented terms… and to feel more comfortable about knowing that everything will disappear in one inescapable moment.

Many people believe we find our purpose in the journey. That it is in the way we get to where we’re going that matters. And yes, this is probably true. But sometimes that’s just too vague. It ignores what is uncomfortable. For me, acknowledging what scares me, like not knowing my purpose or wondering if it even matters, is how I learn more about myself. And knowing myself, with compassion and patience, helps me to navigate the challenges in my life a little better. In this way, my purpose being the journey contains a little more substance, rather than just being an overused expression.

Sure, it is likely the journey, and all that comes with it, that truly matters. That, and for many, faith in something bigger than ourselves… and growth. Faith is self-explanatory, but growth? What does that mean? I mean, if growth is part of what defines our purpose, we should understand what it means, right? And don’t worry, I have not forgotten about goodness.

Growth in life means experiencing or feeling things differently as time progresses. We can grow accustomed to things that initially bothered us, finding them tolerable or even nice. Some call this maturity. And while many of us are familiar with a dictionary definition of maturity, each of us is unique; a person’s life circumstances also influence their development. We do not choose the circumstances into which we are born. And that starting point? It’s not as if we’re aware we’ve begun when we take our first breath. Our journey’s start is like a hazy shape emerging from mist. The fog thins bit by bit. In time, we know we are alive, and with awareness, we can see the world more clearly.

Thank goodness for that.

Thank goodness.

Goodness. It is a pleasing word, both precise and gentle.

Take a moment to say that word out loud.

Sit quietly and say it inwardly a few times.

No matter how many unanswered questions about our purpose may linger, or how often we lose sight of our journey, goodness is here alongside us. All we have to do is look for it. That might sound like a cliché from a motivational poster. Yet, it is true. We can’t always see the goodness in our lives when overwhelming challenges hit, and heavy thoughts cloud our judgment. But we can trust that goodness is always here because it will show itself. The landscape of life is awash with goodness, akin to sunlight emerging from behind drifting clouds.

Sunlight. Goodness. Both are present in our lives even when we cannot see or feel them. So, yeah, while we may never fully understand the point of the whole of the journey, and we may never know why pain is as prolific and deep-cutting as it can be, or why life sometimes feels too lonely, we can know that goodness is ever-present.
To experience this, we must look for goodness in each day, no matter how we define it. Here’s the goodness in my life as I am experiencing it in these few seconds of my journey.

Goodness is…

Unbridled laughter (the kind that brings tears and is so unexpected).
Autumn treetops swaying and rustling in a gust of wind.
Moonlight at midnight.
Opening to the first pages of a new book.
A single flower growing up from a long-vacant lot.
When monarch butterflies flit like orange sparks in a summer meadow.
The call of a loon at dawn.
Train horns in the night.
Maple syrup, anytime.
Spring buds.
The fresh, earthy aroma of the forest.
Babbling brooks, soothing and cool.
A late summer evening breeze on my face.
The sound of my cat purring.
Holding the hand of a loved one.
Music… of all kinds.
Cool moss beneath my bare feet.
A shooting star in a dark sky.
Learning a new skill, even when we thought it might be too hard.
Offering a helping hand with no need for anything in return.
Touching conversations with total strangers, whom we move on from but never forget.
Greying hair and wrinkling faces… because not all of us get to grow old.
Ocean waves along the shore, and my toes sinking into the sand.
Hugs of joy and hugs for comfort during trying times.
And those rare moments, no matter how infrequent and fleeting, when we know we are safe and all is well…