Click the video above for 2 minutes of background waves while reading.
I like walking on the beach. It is good for the mind, body, and soul – and refreshing on my feet.
Good is something that everyone wants – good friends, good food, good music, good times, good weather, good family, good health, and more. Better yet, good is also something one must be willing to give and believe. Some say the way to feel good is to be good. So, what is good?
Good is an adjective, noun, or adverb. We think of good as approval, living in peace with each other – as in pleasing and welcoming. Yes, that’s good, too.

We associate good with other words such as kind, kind-hearted, good-hearted, thoughtful, generous, charitable, magnanimous, and gracious – as in showing kindness and respect – being valued and treasured.
Good is appropriate, fitting, and a quality emphasizing the nicest, finest, and best – or considerable, sizable, substantial, appreciable, and significant.
Good can be many things – a good bet, a good time, a good deal, and a good call. Something can be good to go, in good faith, good as new, as good as it gets, as good as done, good as gold, or even good as dead. One can also keep up the good work or go at a good clip.
One can be a good sport, a good Joe, a good Samaritan, and be in someone’s good graces – but good riddance and getting the goods on someone are not good intentions.
We cheer when our sports heroes make a good play. We do things in good faith and trust the meaning in good condition. However, good spirits, a good soul, and a good heart are more profound.

Good is a word transcending the globe in many languages and customs – also through a smile, music, a dance, acts of kindness and acceptance, and many other ways. Good touches all and has a way to communicate across language barriers.
Finding bad news in the world is easy. After all, we humans thrive on negativity. But despite differences in culture, politics, race, and religion, humanity remains linked by goodness – a possibility too often not realized. Our differences and diversity should be a sign of strength, inspiration, and togetherness – not distrust and hatred.
This raises a question. Does the individual have the courage to listen to their inner goodness and act accordingly? After all, goodness is something that people want. Some even wish the world had more goodness because goodness makes everyone better.
The world needs decency and goodness, and I am thankful that I continue to believe the majority of the world is good. However, we could use more good because there can never be too much. But for too many, that would be a challenge – and it may be too difficult to overcome – but good is worth trying.
I think about Matt Harding with his “Where’s Matt?” videos of him traveling the world to get other people to do his simple dance with him. If you are like me, viewers initially focus on the places – but when I watched again, I then focused on the people – and the look on their faces is priceless. Strangers together – many times not knowing each other’s language – but their faces tell a story of goodness.

Although commonly associated with Christianity’s Christmas, Santa Claus has a way of crossing the barriers that humanity places against itself. Santa Claus leads the parade of goodness by emphasizing good – and that is a quality continually exhibited by many Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, Christians, secular humanists, and many other religions and philosophies throughout the world – let alone in atheists and agnostics. Besides, Santa does not confine goodness to December – therefore, his goodness is for every day of the year. So to me, Santa Claus is the Spirit of Goodness that transcends all cultures – but that’s me.
Good is the distinct smell of the ocean’s air – the unique blend of both marine and salt. Good is the feeling one receives from the cool breezes on a warm day. Good is the sand cleansing the soles of my feet, followed by a gentle rinsing by a diminishing wave.
These are some of the good reasons I like walking on the beach. I had many good thoughts about good during this walk, causing me to smile. Besides, I like walking on the beach because it is good for the mind, body, and soul – and refreshing on my feet.
See what other bloggers have posted about Good
- Some Goodness 11/8 (a letter)
- Never Let Goodness in You Die (a paragraph)
- Lamp of Goodness (an image)
- A Little Spark of Kindness (an essay)
- You’re a Good Friend (a poem)
Next Post: Last – Wednesday 28th December @ 1 AM (Eastern US
What an exhausting way to start the day, Frank! Can’t stop smiling. I was there in Lisbon in spirit. Wishing you a very GOOD Christmas and an even gooder New Year. Thanks for your lovely company and thoughts.
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Jo,
Delivering smiles to you with this essay makes me smile … so thanks you! …. and a special thanks for your goodness. Best holiday wishes to you and yours. Enjoy your trip to England …. and cheers to good desserts!
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I’ve been far too virtuous today, Frank, but I’m sure there are desserts in my future 🤣🧁🍩🥞🍨🍫❣️
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😀 …. and bring them forth!
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Good is reading this and visiting your very welcome place! All Good stuff your way, my dear friend!
Yamas!
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Marina,
Amidst all the turmoil and bad news of the day, we forget about the goodness that is around us. Thank you for your goodness touching me. Yamas!
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…”bad news”?
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“Bad news” refers to all th negativity we hear and read in the news every day about events happening across the world.
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Ah… indeed.
It’s become inevitable lately…
May we wise up.
Yamas, my friend.
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Couldn’t agree more and certainly couldn’t express the good I receive from your posts better than Marina. Happy ‘howlidays,’ Frank! 🎄
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Monika,
Thank you for your kind words and support … .and cheers to your love for the furry friends & the good you do with them delivering joy to others. Best holiday wishes to you!
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And right back atcha, Frank. 🎄🎄🎄
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Good is good, how ever you work it, you did good. I truly believe, that basically we are deep down good, well the majority of us any ways! Happy Chrismas to you and your loved ones Frank!
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Ritva,
Thank you for the kind words about this walk and for being a fellow believer that the majority of us in this world are good. Best Christmas greetings to you and yours!
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A good post on good, Frank! I hope you find lots of good during this holiday season and into the new year. Happy holidays!
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Merril,
Thank you … and best holiday wishes to you and your family. Cheers to the good!
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You’re welcome, Frank! 😊
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Your post is so good, Frank
In friendship
Michel
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Michel,
Thank you kind sir …. and best holiday wishes to you and yours! A toast to goodness.
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Thank GOODness there are so many people like you in the world, Frank!
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Barbara,
I’m blushing … yet humbled by your kind words. Thank you … and thanks for walking along. Best holiday wishes to you and yours.
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A fab post! Have a cool Yule Frank.
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Fraggle,
Thank you …. and you had me smiling with cool Yule! Holiday cheers to you and yours!
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Wishing for all things GOOD for everyone in the coming year and of course YOU be sure to be GOOD or Santa will pass right over your house on Christmas Eve!!
Merry Christmas Frank
Pam
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Pam,
Thank you … and Santa will stop by because he knows I’ll have some Irish Mint Cake waiting for him! Merry Christmas to you and yours!
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Winter Solstice today. All is good. And, coffee.
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Ray,
Although I’m late … all the best Winter Solistice wishes to you … and cheers to all being good for you! 🙂
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And, from a singer-songwriter I know…
The week before Thanksgiving Day This town puts up its old display Streetlights hung with candy canes and bows The earlier it gets each year The scarcer is my Christmas cheer I guess I just like taking these things slow I really don’t remember much Of Christmasses growing up Except the year the Beatles came to play On my record player that came from Sears That White Album filled my ears In 1968 on Christmas Day I haven’t been to church since God knows when I’m not someone who usually attends Truth be told there’s just two wishes On my list every Christmas Peace on earth and a snow storm now and then
On Fri, Dec 23, 2022 at 6:22 PM Beach Walk Reflections: Thoughts from thinking whi
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Very poignant words ….. thank for sharing …. but this snow storm is the pits. Didn’t get above zero today … and that’s unusual for Cincinnati. Cheers and Peace to you!
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Good post, Frank. (I’m an idiot) Happy Holidays
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John,
Thank you …. just be a good idiot! 🙂 Best holiday wishes to you, yours, and the paw gang.
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Thank you, Frank. Best wishes for the holidays to you as well.
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I so agree Frank! Finding the good should be prioritized over bad.
“Good is the distinct smell of the ocean’s air – the unique blend of both marine and salt. Good is the feeling one receives from the cool breezes on a warm day. Good is the sand cleansing the soles of my feet, followed by a gentle rinsing by a diminishing wave.”
love your pics too!!!
💗
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Cindy,
Cheers to you believing in the good … and thanks for letting me know the words that touched you. Glad you enjoyed the pics … courtesy of Pexels … which also means I have a good eye for selecting those that fit. Best holiday wishes to you and yours!
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Good vibes aside, I believe in the innate goodness of people…
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Muri,
Cheers to good vibes and the innate goodness in people. Best holiday wishes to you and yours.
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Frank, when reading this I first thought about kind and kindness versus good and goodness – how they relate to one another. I settled upon the fact that my wishes and prayers are for the people of this world to just be kind to one other…and that would definitely be a good thing for all of us to experience. Happy Holidays to you and yours!
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Bruce,
Oh my … I like your thought … so thanks for sharing. Whether good or kind, toss in respect, humanity can make great progress! Best holiday wishes to you and yours.
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Goodness begets goodness. Happy Hols Frank.
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Cindy,
I agree … after all, goodness can be contagious. 🙂 Best holiday wishes to you and yours.
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A perfect subject for this time of year Frank, and a reminder that good will always triumph over evil so long as good people stand to be counted. Thanks for the lovely reminder and happy holidays to you and yours.
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Tina,
Thank you. I intentionally held this essay back for this moment. I wouldn’t be surprised if Good v3 appears this time next year. It’s interesting how good people stand to be counted …. and many times in a way that they don’t need credit or acknowledgement because they aim at doing good. Goodness is in their DNA! Best holiday wishes to you and yours.
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This is a good post, Frank and reading it made me feel good.
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Dan,
Goodness coming through feelings – so job done. 🙂 Thanks for walking along and sharing. Best holiday wishes to you and yours.
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And to you and yours, Frank
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Thank you, kind sir
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Very Lovely! Happy Holidays to you and yours!
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Tamara,
The fact that you said this makes me feel good … thank you! Best holiday wishes to you and yours.
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Thanks Frank! My pleasure!
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Thanks! My pleasure! 🙂
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Good word! Loved Matt’s video. He sure has a lot of energy (and money?)😁
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Eilene,
Thanks for being the first person to mention Matt’s video. Goodness crosses language and cultural barriers, and the smiles show it! Personally, I like this one (which I used for another walk). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pwe-pA6TaZk … best holiday wishes to you and yours.
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Another lovely walk with lots to reflect on, Frank. Happy Holidays to you and yours, wherever you are this year!
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Debbie,
Thank you …. and best holiday wishes to you and yours. Hopefully you maintained power and heat during this latest blast. Knowing you enjoy music, I think you’ll enjoy this handbell piece … one that we are playing in at Christmas Eve services. Lots of techniques to create a variety of songs. https://listeninglab.stantons.com/title/patapan/496177/ Enjoy
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What an amazing flute part! Thank you, Frank — I did enjoy it!
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Not an easy piece for handbellers.
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I feel good! Great post about everything in life that is good, Frank. I enjoyed watching Matt and his tireless energy. I can’t imagine going to that many places in one year. Funny how in some places he had a great following and in others he danced solo. Have a wonderful holiday, my friend. 🙂
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Sorry I mislaid you! Excellent post as always. Your post about good was… Well… Good! It is an exceptional word that we need to embrace more.
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Pam,
Not only thanks for the good words about this essay, thanks for all the goodness you give us at your end. 🙂 Best holiday wishes to you!
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And to you my friend!
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Lots of goodness in this post, Frank! Being good doing simple things is the best kind of goodness for me. Like a smile to a strange, holding the door to someone, giving a better tip to a server… the daily goodness. And the most important is being good to ourselves, if we feel good with our actions and thoughts, people around us will realize it and if good too. Merry Christmas and lots of goodness your way.
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Elizabeth,
Thanks for the kind words and for sharing your thoughts. I’m with you because so much goodness is in the simple things … the little things in daily life. Years ago I worked with a guy who would say, “It doesn’t cost much more to be first class.” …. Simple, meaningful words. Thanks for walking along and Merry Christmas!
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‘Good’ is expansive, swells the heart, triggers love. Wishing you a good festive season! 😊 😊 😊
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Crispina,
I like your description of good. Perfect! …. Best holiday wishes to you!
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Thank you, Frank. And may you have the best New Year 😊 😊 😊
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The good in life outweighs the bad or so it is according to my lens. How good it is to hear the ocean’s waves as I read your post for my soul was made for those waves. However, the Universe directed me other parts of this world and so here I am, in snow, listening to ocean waves through you. Thank you and Merry Christmas!! xo
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Amy,
While the world can swallow us with bad news, good is all around is …. in both nature and humanity. all we have to do is look as your lens does. Merry Christmas to you and yours!
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All the best, hope the new year will be good to you!
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Ludwig,
Thank you …. hoping the best for your 2023!
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Wow, what a great post, Frank! And OH MY GOODNESS, I loved the video! I have never heard of Matt, but I love him! Makes me feel like dancing, and that is a GOOD feeling 😊 Hope you had a wonderful Christmas!
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Lisa,
Thank you for your kind words. Your enthusiastic joy for the video I chose for this walk thrills me to no end – especially because I believe this video is a wonderful video demonstrating my point about good & my belief that the majority of people in the world are good. Because you enjoy Matt so much, here’s another one of his videos – actually my favorite – one causing me to choke up many times. Enjoy … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pwe-pA6TaZk … Hope you have had a wonderful Christmas season.
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Awwww, I love that one too! I like that he teaches and learns the dances. And of course, the ending with whom I assume is his family 🥰❤️ Thanks for sharing, Frank!
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Now I cannot help but “hear” a teacher:
Good, better, best
Never let it rest
Till the good is better
And the better, best!
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Dale,
Now there’s on oldie that I haven’t heard in some time. I wonder if teacher’s still use that one.
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I wonder, too!
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