Doing Good

You know what makes me feel really good? Giving. I feel really good when I give generously. I feel even better when I do it anonymously. I must say though, I'm not near as giving as I'd like to be. It's a character flaw I'm working on constantly. I read a book years ago called "Doing Good". In it the main character is struggling (failing) miserably in her marriage, as a mother, with her friends. Her whole life is based on material goods and wealth. At a session with her therapist she is given a list. The Rules of Tzedakah (Ze-da-ka). This is an old Jewish writing, set of rules that he feels just might benefit her. Little does she know that as she slowly begins to give more, the better her life gets. She is for once focused on someone other than herself and it was transforming. She turned it into a game at first, giving herself points for each item on the list she did each day. As time went on she had no reason to give herself points. Giving became automatic. Here's the actual list:

1. Giving begrudgingly
2. Giving less than you should, but giving it cheerfully.
3. Giving after being asked
4. Giving before being asked
5. Giving when you do not know the recipient's identity, but the recipient knows your identity
6. Giving when you know the recipient's identity, but the recipient doesn't know your identity
7. Giving when neither party knows the other's identity
8. Enabling the recipient to become self-reliant

I think I'll try that point system tomorrow and see how good I do. Oh, each time she didn't give when the opportunity arose, she deducted points. Ouch.