How Worthy Are Your Actions?

Take Pen to Paper: Edition 179

Susan G.S. Abel

May 07, 2026

Greetings!

The simple answer to the above question is that if your intent in your actions is to do good, it is a worthy action.

I started thinking about this when I read this quote:

“The truest measure of all our actions is how long the good in them lasts.” - Queen Elizabeth II

When I first read it, I thought, yes!

Then I gave it more thought, and I disagreed.

What if we have no way to measure how long the good in them lasts? Do we only choose actions based on the good we think will last?

What about the actions that do good in the moment? Should we not bother with those?

Everyone has the potential to do actions that result in good. The action may be as simple as bringing a smile to someone’s face or as grand as donating the money to build a new wing of a hospital. Both actions do good. Is one better than the other because of its scale?

We shouldn’t compare actions that do good without considering what the person doing the action has to work with. What if the person who brings a smile to a face has done the most and best they can? Thinking that our actions must bring good that lasts is discouraging to the person who only has a little to give.

My mother was a good example of doing small actions resulting in good. She was one of the kindest people I’ve ever known. She did small favors for others without being asked, like carrying their newspaper up to their front door when she was out on her early morning walk. She spoke kindly to everyone, treating them as equals, regardless of their station in life.

I never heard her say a harsh word about anyone. My mother’s kind words and actions touched the people she came into contact with. She had no way of knowing how long the good of her actions would last. Her actions were worthy.

You won’t find my mother’s name on a list of philanthropists or on any buildings she paid for. Yet, her small actions were worthy because the intention of her actions was to do good. She raised her three children to do the same just by being a good role model.

It’s very possible that my mother’s small actions inspired the recipient to pay it forward. She would never have known. That’s how we should think of each of our actions. What is the possibility our actions will inspire others, and good will be the result?

We shouldn’t do actions based on thinking about how long their good will last. We should do them because they are the actions that do good in the moment.

Each and every act that brings good is a worthy action.

I’m grateful for my mother’s influence in helping me learn about actions that do good.

Now is a great time to wish a happy Mother’s Day to all of the mothers and mother figures. I never told my mother how much I appreciated her as a role model of doing good and being kind. So take the time to tell the “mother” in your life how much and why you appreciate them.

7 Days, 7 Thoughts on Gratitude and Good:

The picture above shows a little happy gift left on my desk at work one day. The giver was anonymous. 🎁
Don’t let overthinking keep you from taking action. If you think an action will do good, do it!
Role models are essential to a child’s character development. This article tells five areas of development that role models influence.
We never lose the need for a good role model in our lives.
It’s a good thing that you can be a role model for those around you. That’s one way to pay it forward. 💸
I am grateful to have had several role models in my life.
Philosopher Frederick Nietzsche believed that moments in our lives would be repeated. Would you want to relive moments in your life? That might guide you to actions that do good. Read more here. ♻️

Thank you for reading. Would you want to relive moments in your life?

Until next time,

💙

Susan

Who has been your role model for action resulting in good? Leave a comment and let me know.

Take Pen to Paper

Discussion about this post

Ready for more?