good life with erica shaw

Part of cultivating a good life requires us to step outside of ourselves and see what in the world needs cultivating.

When I think of the phrase “cultivating a good life,” I find myself pausing at the word “good” because how do we define what is good? There is the form of the word that means “benefit or advantage to someone or something;" for example, when we say “for the good of others.” There’s also the form of the word that means “morally right.” Like when your mother tells you to “be good!” It’s these two forms of the word “good” that I’d like to focus on today.

If we focus on these two definitions, we can almost say that to cultivate a good life, we need to help benefit others and do what is morally right, and I believe that these two go hand in hand. We all have different ideas of what it means to benefit another and we all have different beliefs that guide our morality and what we believe to be right. Where do we even start?

I have a few suggestions that can help: 

First, identify who the someone is that could use a benefit or advantage. Look at disadvantaged communities in your local area. Or look at another state or country. There are disadvantaged communities everywere. Disadvantaged people include those who deal with physical or mental disability, those who are lacking economic support, those who are without sufficient power due to class, gender, race, or religion. Realize that the most disadvantaged communities are those where many of those experiences intersect. 

Second, identify what feels morally right (good) to you. This is where you can step in and offer support in the form of financial assistance, volunteering, encouraging politicians to support policies that benefit disadvantaged communities, or just being there as a friend. 

The American ideal is that we are all free and independent and can rise up from our station in life and be whatever we aim to be, but the reality isn’t quite that simple. For this to happen, I believe we need support. When I went to college as a single mom, I had the support of my family (emotional and financial) as well as support from the college I attended (financial) and support from friends and neighbors (child care and emotional). Without that support, I doubt I would have believed that I could graduate from college with a small toddler. The challenge I faced was just one example of so many challenges humans are facing today. We have the power and ability to lighten another’s burdens.

Third, get to work. It can be as simple as finding an organization to donate to. (http://www.charitynavigator.org lets you search for organizations by location or by topic.) Maybe you have neighbors you could get to know. Non-profit organizations are always looking for volunteers. Look for small opportunities to show kindness, grace, and love to all humans you encounter throughout your day. 

We all deserve respect, love, and support from our fellow human beings. I have seen the impact of the support of others in my own life and I have tried to pay that back to my community. I believe that by supporting others, we can cultivate a “good” life and help others do the same.

Erica is part of our Creative Team using the Physical Product. She currently resides in a suburb of Salt Lake City, Utah with her husband and 7-year-old daughter.

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