Theloopylululog

The loopiness of being Lulu

What It Means to Be a ‘Good Enough’ Person, On My Own Terms

Two people hold a wooden sign reading “I am good enough and that is good enough.”
Daily writing prompt
What does it mean to be a good person?
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What does it mean to be a good person?

You mean to me? Because there is no one universal definition of what constitutes a good person.

I have asked myself this question over many decades. Every so often, I find myself asking, “are you a good person, Lulu?”

I think I am a good enough person with plenty of room for learning, change, and transformation.

When I finally stood up for myself—my truth and my choices—and said NO to a conventional career, marriage, and motherhood, I ended up defying my parents and, hence, hurting them, albeit unintentionally.

What does that make me? Good or bad? Or just human?

I upheld my truth—what mattered to me most—but at the cost of their dreams for me.

Where does the line blur between black and white? Where does the grey begin when they merge? Toward the black or toward the white?

So I wouldn’t know if this question has a right answer—one perfectly rounded and dotted.

I can only give you my take on what I think makes me a good enough person.

Living an honest, authentic life aligned with my truth, values, and principles, guided by a strong moral compass, has always been my dharma.

Being deeply aligned with nature and its silent laws has ensured I protect and honor that which I am incapable of creating.

Staying aligned with integrity, simplicity, rootedness, kindness, forgiveness, and most of all a deep faith in the Universe allows me to be accountable to myself and the people and places around me, keeping self-centredness at bay.

An openness to let bygones be bygones as I wade through the waters of life has been a great help in navigating challenging times that threaten my almost autistic obsession with my dharmic compass.

Am I empathetic? Sadly, no.

Am I compassionate? YES. That’s enough—for now. Empathy is that proverbial seventh horse of the sun for me, giving me hope that I will be a better-rounded, good person someday.

That’s all for now. Maybe as I grow into my 50s and 60s, there will be more to this or maybe less as I experience more of life and its oddities.

For now, this is all I have for you, WordPress. I don’t have a perfect answer to what it means to be a good person, but I do have mine—what it means to be a good enough person. Hope that serves.

what it means to be a good person: Seen here two people hold a wooden sign reading “I am good enough and that is good enough.”

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Lalitha's avatar

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Lalitha

14 responses to “What It Means to Be a ‘Good Enough’ Person, On My Own Terms”

  1. Andy Young Avatar
    Andy Young

    Good, well thought out post! I have to agree with you. How do you measure if someone is a good person. To what standard are you held. Anyway. I’ve subscribed. Thanks!

    Reply
    1. Lalitha Avatar
      Lalitha

      Exactly! How does one measure if someone is good what with each of us having our own standards?

      Thank you Andy for the subscription ☺️

      Reply
  2. Rajeev Avatar
    Rajeev

    One question Lulu, Are you Vegan?

    Reply
    1. Lalitha Avatar
      Lalitha

      Yes I am. I was a former vegetarian. Covid put paid to all dairy for me. I still try to have a cheat day once in a blue moon by sneaking in some paneer. Sometimes my stomach agrees. Other times it stages a protest.🤣🙊🙈🙈

      Reply
      1. Rajeev Avatar
        Rajeev

        Since, you are a Vegan my friend Dr. Flora Fauna approves the compassionate claim you made in this post. Congratulations 🎉 😜

        Apologies for making you disclose all the suffering you experience from dairy products.

      2. Lalitha Avatar
        Lalitha

        Apologies accepted. Thank you! 🙏🏾 Where’s my approval certificate though? 🤔 The Ministry better mail it to me asap!

      3. Rajeev Avatar
        Rajeev

        Paperwork and bureaucracy are foundations of this ministry. Submit your claim after getting it attested by a gazetted officer (in triplicate). The Ministry will definitely consider your request.

      4. Lalitha Avatar
        Lalitha

        I consider it delivered on the date garnishing my epitaph. Thank you! 🙏🏾

      5. Rajeev Avatar
        Rajeev

        That’s how the proper channels work. 😜

  3. Ganesh Avatar
    Ganesh

    Nice…

    Reply
    1. Lalitha Avatar
      Lalitha

      Thank you🙏🏾🙏🏾☺️

      Reply
      1. Ganesh Avatar
        Ganesh

        You are most welcome, Lalitha! :)

  4. meetabakshi19 Avatar
    meetabakshi19

    This was a lovely, honest read. I especially appreciated your framing of “good enough” rather than “good” , it leaves room for growth without self-punishment. And your point about hurting your parents unintentionally while staying true to yourself resonates; choosing your own path rarely comes without some ache for the people we love.
    I also liked your distinction between empathy and compassion. Acting with compassion, even when empathy doesn’t come naturally, still counts for a great deal. Thank you for sharing your definition. It serves. 🙏

    Reply
    1. Lalitha Avatar
      Lalitha

      Thank you Meeta. I really like how you put it as you say that being good enough leaves room for growth without self-punishment. Thank you so much for that! Self-punishment is a silent killer for most of us! And I am grateful you noticed the distinction. I have never been able to channel empathy but I have always been compassionate. I make do with what I have instead of cribbing about what doesn’t come naturally to me.

      Reply

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