Worthwhile.

Doing good things usually brings us good things. Plus, when we're kind, we feel all happy and fulfilled inside. Being a do-gooder lifts our mood, it helps someone else, and we get a big thank you back… except for when we don’t. 

While I was hiding during the COVID pandemic, I have to confess that I started watching television. I watched TV a lot. It was like I was on some kind of mission to make up for forty years of not watching any TV. At some point along the way, I discovered the show “Survivor.” I watched the first season, and really liked it. Only then, did I realize that there were 46 more seasons to go. Oh no!

I find it fascinating to watch the social dynamics unfold revealing the lengths people will go to avoid being voted off the island. The alliances, the lying and inevitable betrayals have kept me totally hooked and I love it.

Today’s fortune reminds me of one episode from the All-Stars season. Jerri, an especially aggressive and grouchy player, chose to give up her food reward to her tribemates, making a massive sacrifice to allow them to enjoy a feast, while she basically starved. Despite her selfless act, she was immediately voted off at the next tribal council.

While her opponents thanked, thanked, and thanked her in that moment for her selflessness, the gratitude they expressed didn’t yield any of the goodwill she was expecting. In the end, the value of her good deed just wasn’t enough to outweigh the million-dollar prize at stake. So, when your good deed like Jerri’s gets you nothing in return, are they still worth doing? The correct answer is supposed to be “Yes.” 

Just ask any mother who would gladly do anything for her children, how thankless her sacrifice feels sometimes. At least Jerri was thanked before she was voted out, but moms sometimes don’t even get that. Most moms would still say that just the joy of seeing her kids thrive is worth every ounce of effort, love, sleepless nights, and the hard work she gave them. She would even say they are worth more than a million bucks. 

So, what about you? Have you ever experienced moments where your kindness went unappreciated? Have you ever wondered if your good deeds truly matter? While it can be disheartening when your efforts seem overlooked, remember that every act of kindness contributes to a brighter world. Your compassion is always worthwhile and brings value beyond measure as today’s fortune says, “Goodness is its own reward.”