Self-questioning / Inner questioning: Am I A Good Person?

Congratulations! You’ve asked yourself this question and, in doing so, you’ve earned the right to be called a good person!

I read this on a blog. It was saying, if you’re wondering whether you’re a good person, you probably aren’t a bad one. (Yes, I actually Googled "Am I a good person".)

You know how it goes—this thought flashes in your mind like an alarm, and suddenly, you’re mentally ticking off a checklist: "I called my family today, I turned off the water while brushing my teeth, I played with my cat, I retweeted tweets condemning the evils in the world, and... oh yes, I smiled at the cashier at the grocery store.

I should really thank that cashier someday—she doesn’t realize it, but she’s been rescuing my day more times than I can count. Of course, I know she doesn’t need my smile, but still, it was the closest I got to doing something good today.

I don’t want to sound like one of those people who say "everything is a transaction" and take a purely pragmatic view. So, let me ask this as one of those people:

If the people I share mutual support with, like my friends, believe I’m a good person, does that truly make me one? For me, the answer is: It’s definitely a great start.

I can say that 90% of the people actively in my life right now are good people. And if you were to ask them, 90% of them would say I’m a good person too. But if you look for someone outside of my immediate circle who would call me good, you’d have to find the elderly lady whose grocery bags I carried last year. After all, the opportunity to do a good deed doesn’t come our way every day.

But with so few chances in daily life to genuinely help others without expecting anything in return, how can I truly be a good person? Donating to charities, doing volunteer work, mentoring someone in need… We all know these things, but I have to admit, I haven’t quite managed to fully integrate these practices into my life.

Maybe I should try giving that cashier a bigger smile?

Better yet, I could spend my entire day with a big smile on my face, spreading hope and kindness wherever I go. So, everyone would think I’m crazy—and, as we all know, crazy people are inherently good at heart.

I often find myself reflecting on my altruistic thoughts and wondering what stops me from putting them into action. We all have these fantasies about helping others, yet somehow, we rarely follow through. If good behavior has no real cost, then why don’t we do more of it? 

Laziness?

Inertia?

Losing hope?

Maybe it’s also because there hasn’t been an easy way to really start being part of the change.

When it comes to big, global issues, it’s easy to feel involved—just sharing a post on social media can keep the conversation going. But with local issues, the ones that happen right in front of us where we could actually make a difference, the tools I have just don’t seem to reach the right people. 

Sharing a concern about something specific, like a spot in my neighborhood, often feels pointless when I can’t be sure the right eyes will see it.

Auglinn allows you to create maps by pinning notes and questions in outdoor locations. These notes are visible both on a map and through an augmented reality (AR) view, making them accessible to anyone who passes by. You leave the notes into spaces—thematic maps. You can also collaborate with others to create collective maps.

For instance, I could start a #NeighborhoodSupport space where everyone in my community can contribute notes, fostering interaction and solidarity among neighbors.

This way, everyone in the community can share any thoughts, warnings, observations, information, or complaints about any spot in the world. So, we can interact with people who are actually there or who might pass through those places later.

What kind of social benefit could sharing location-based notes create?

• If you notice a sidewalk isn’t accessible for people with disabilities, leave a note at that spot to alert the local government and provide precise information for action.

• If you experience or witness harassment, leave a note in that location to inform others and help identify patterns, potentially stopping repeated offenses.

• Encounter a dangerous area or potential safety risk? Drop a note to warn others and prompt authorities to take action.

• Provide useful information, like the location of a community service or resource, to help others who might need it.

• Pin notes to organize cleanup efforts in specific areas, encouraging residents to participate and keep neighborhoods clean.

• Draw attention to environmental concerns, such as illegal dumping or water pollution, by leaving notes in affected areas to inspire collective action and pressure authorities.

• Drop notes about suspicious activities to improve safety and vigilance in the area.

Next time you’re out, try looking around with an eye for what you can improve. I’m sure you’ll find plenty of opportunities to create valuable impacts in your surroundings. These are just a few ways to make a difference, and it all starts with small, simple actions.

As for me? I’m going to leave a note at the grocery store where that cashier works, recommending it to everyone. That way, she’ll get more customers but also be more tired. Then, she’ll really need my smile, and she’ll understand just how much of a good person I am—just by smiling!