Besides being a decade late to this whole blog thing, I’m quite enjoying writing down my thoughts regularly.
My grandfather (mother’s side) used to write in a journal daily.
My mother said to me that she thinks anyone who write a journal daily can’t be a bad person.
I don’t know if that’s true, but I do think there’s some credence to one being introspective and a good person.
But then again, I do believe everyone is normally good, or at least in part.
At least tries to be…
At least thinks they’re not a bad guy… maybe?
My grandfather was known to be very kind.
He was well respected in the rural Korean town my mother was raised in.
He was a coast guard.
But maybe being kind can be a bad thing…
Mark Rosewater has a great quote.
”One’s greatest weakness
is one’s greatest strength
pushed too far.”
Everything in moderation right?
Unfortunately being kind and being a coastguard didn’t bring much fortune.
Which is to say, as a coast guard my grandfather would only really make money by ticketing people.
Being as kind as he was, he would usually let people go with a warning.
The townsfolk would pay him back with favors of course.
My grandfather apparently was allowed to basically drink for free at the local tavern.
But this didn’t put food on the table at home.
My mother grew up very poor, she didn’t reliably have food to eat — something that I have trouble even fully comprehending…
Man does not live on bread alone, in this case beer… Let alone his family of 6.
I’m sure that the townsfolk thought they were giving back proportionally, and of course I’m sure they had their own hardships to worry about.
But all of this makes me think of how easily kindness is taken advantage of.
Common traits associated with kindness and being a “good person” are things such as patience, understanding, generosity… all of which if the flow is unilateral, then one side is being taken advantage of.
Do nice guys always have to finish last?
What of balance?