Why do bad things happen to good people? – Miss Write

Now there’s a question. I didn’t really expect an answer when I tweeted this message this morning, but my random ‘had to share’ musing made me think (more). Why do bad things happen to good people?

Recently, some friends of mine have been ‘going through the mill’. From medical and financial complications, to spirit-crushing things at work and problems at home, things seems to be an uphill struggle. They’re good people though, so how is this fair that their life is not sunny? Why can’t they be given a break, or at least be given reasons for why such things happen?

I guess the question I tweeted is an age old question as no one really knows why things like that happen. Sure, sometimes it’s bad decision making or a brief lack of judgement, but I see so many cases where there’s nothing they did wrong. Some would say “life just sucks sometimes” but that’s a bit simple and defeatist to me. Here’s my opinion on why bad stuff happens to good people.

1. People who feel pain more intensely  may be those who care and love more. More openly, stronger, without judgement. That’s a nice way of thinking about it, and it may be true. Totally stole this from the last episode of Fleabag on the BBC, by the way. Find it on the iplayer for a few weeks, well worth a binge.

2. Perhaps people who are nice, unselfish and caring expect the same from other people. I personally don’t think this is unreasonable, but maybe it makes good eggs more vulnerable or naïve… Cue the bite in the ass shock you get when it’s not a mutual thing. I know I’ve been there. I’ve expected the same courtesies back from people sometimes and received the opposite, and probably most of us can relate to this.

3. It doesn’t apply most of the crap that’s happening to my friends at the moment, and it’s a bit of a weak argument, but sometimes good people can be busy people. Maybe having minor undesirable stuff happen to them could be a side-effect of distraction, stress, or just a lack of time to do things properly or on time?

4. Some good people may know they’re good people and unintentionally offend or make mistakes as they know they didn’t mean to cock-up. If you didn’t mean to cause waves or create a negative situation, surely everyone understands that you meant well?! Well, no. They won’t. Everyone is different. Good people are not perfect, give yourself a break, make amends if needs be, and know you meant no harm. And if people don’t ‘get’ you, that’s their problem, not yours.

It just occurred to me that bad things happen to bad people too. It’s universal. Bad people may just absorb them better, be less inclined to share the news, or maybe we non-baddies think “well deserved” and move on, forgetting… Good things happen all the time though, so look out for the light and the moments of joy.

Yes, life does suck sometimes, and often you’ll find you’ve seemed to have done nothing to deserve it. But good people should be rewarded, in my book, with less sh*t to deal with. Sometimes it’s relentless and, if you’re reading this, God, this tactic needs improvement! 

Just keep swimming, folks, and be kind to one another. After all, kindness and unselfish actions are often just the absence of ‘unkindness’ and selfishness. And if you are kind to others, that could be their ‘good thing’ that happens to that good person that day. Pay it forward!

Have a great week,

Lou x

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Born To Be A Tourist