The word reciprocal means to return in kind. A simple good deed coming your way from a person is returned back to the person in gratefulness, is how I define reciprocity. In our life so many people come to help us or be with us in our time of need, many known & sometimes unknown. They show their kindness, compassion & demonstrate their understanding.
I therefore need to ask myself:
1.Does a good turn happen in my life from another person?
- Do I return the good turn to that person?
- If it is not possible to return to that very person (a stranger whom you lost or couldn’t trace), can I do a good turn to another person unknown to me?
An old lady, standing in at the back of a bus, with some hand bags was finding it difficult to keep her balance. She was obviously uncomfortable & was finding it difficult to stand. A young boy got up from his seat & offered her a place to sit. After a few seconds a mother near the driver’s seat, with a sleeping child on her shoulder was offered a seat by a woman.
My friend Monika was very agitated the other day. Her mother in law was giving her a hard time, her maid did not come to work, her work from home assignment was piling up. I listened to her woes over a cup of coffee. She appeared better settled after some time. I packed her some lunch and waived her bye. A few days later my husband had to undergo a sudden unplanned operation & I was full with anxiety. My friend Monika pitched in without asking – looked after my kid, fed our dogs and packed food for me. All this help without my asking. I felt so blessed.
Nalini shared a simple incident. Her maids house was leaking that year due to unprecedented monsoon. The family would sit up all night in a dry corner and this was having a toll on their health. Nalini called up a waterproofing agency and gave them her maids house for repair and in the mean time she got her roof covered by waterproof tarpaulin sheets.
‘When in need, I think of so & so person in my life – my life saver. I know come hail or storm this friend will always be available to me.’ ‘For good pragmatic advice & solution finding I depend on so & so in my life.’ These are all the people in our lives who we need to appreciate & reciprocate their goodness for us.
The above examples speak about how we can mirror good deeds back, listen attentively to understand our friend, be available to give & being available as well as being dependable to our friends. We see that if one neglects reciprocating, the chances of feeling lonely, isolated & ignored run high. We also have to learn the art of appreciating such people in our life – letting them know verbally or in writing.
You are indeed wealthy if you have such people in your life. You are specially blessed if such people are present in the later portion of life – in the sunset years too.
In order to attract more good turns in our life, we need to return the good/ reciprocate the good that has come our way. We need to look out for occasions that can help us do a good turn, and therefore help this net of reciprocity grow in a compounding way.
It is so wisely said “Like breeds like.”
