Looking Beyond Self — Secular Spirituality, Stoicism (Good, not God)

I wrote these ‘Wise Words?’ below, some time back, and I still certainly feel the truth of it:

“Life is a jigsaw puzzle of a thing, fun, frustrating, fabulous, and fragile.”

I am not a religious person, not at all. I am in fact quite skeptical about religion, and any possible ‘benefits’ from embracing it, for me at least. I am not arrogant about this — what works for one person may not work for another. I can see that some of my friends deeply believe in their God, and I am happy for them in that. It just isn’t what I believe, as simple as that.

Looking at other people, some will thank God for the good things that come to them, and not look to their own actions as much, or the actions of others. When things aren’t so good, they blame who? Do they think on the times they have done things their God may not have wanted them to do? I don’t know the answer to this, and it doesn’t feel a useful thing for me to think on, we all find our own way in life, is what I believe. But I certainly believe deeply in the idea that we must find ways to do good for others.

Society is made up of those who do good for others, others to whom good is done, and some who sometimes fit one category, and then fit the other. There are a huge conglomeration of ways to do these things too. I try to help others in various ways if and when I can.

I smile at people (both those I know, and strangers too), and compliment them if…