*This life isn’t fair, it’s gonna get dark, it’s gonna get cold. You’ve got to get tough, but that ain’t enough, it’s all about soul…*

She waits for me at night, she waits for me in silence. She gives me all her tenderness, and takes away my pain. And so far she hasn’t run, though I swear she’s had her moments. She still believes in miracles while others cry in vain.

It’s all about soul, it’s all about faith and a deeper devotion. It’s all about soul, ‘cuz under the love is a stronger emotion. She’s got to be strong ‘cuz so many things gettin’ out of control should drive her away, so why does she stay? It’s all about soul.

She turns to me sometimes and she asks me what I’m dreaming, and I realize I must have gone a million miles away. And I ask her how she knew to reach out for me at that moment, and she smiles because it’s understood there are no words to say.

It’s all about soul, it’s all about knowing what someone is feeling. The woman’s got soul, the power of love, and the power of healing. This life isn’t fair, it’s gonna get dark, it’s gonna get cold. You’ve got to get tough, but that ain’t enough, it’s all about soul.

There are people who have lost  every trace of human kindness. There are many who have fallen, there are some who still survive. She comes to me at night and she tells me her desires, and she gives me all the love I need to keep my faith alive.

It’s all about soul, it’s all about joy that comes out of sorrow. It’s all about soul, who’s standing now and who’s standing tomorrow. You’ve got to be hard, hard as the rock in that old rock ‘n’ roll, but that’s only part, you know in your heart, it’s all about soul.

“All About Soul (Remix)” – Billy Joel

Classic!

So, I was talking to a friend the other day about what makes a “good person”. It was by far one of the most interesting convos I’ve ever had, but it really made me think:

What DOES make a good person?

There’s so many ways to look at this. If you’re like me, you believe in the psychological model that all people are basically good. People have good qualities, it’s how they use them that defines their greater alignment. Everyone has at least one good quality. Notorious serial killer Ted Bundy had amazing charisma and charm, those are good. But the way he used them, to seduce women so he could murder them, was bad and caused his greater alignment to be bad as well. If a person doesn’t have a lot of good qualities, but still attempts to use what they’ve got for good, they’re still aligned with good.

If you’re like my friend, however, you believe in the more social model of “the deeds make the person”, which essentially means your greater alignment depends purely on your actions. According to this, if you do one bad thing, you’re automatically considered a bad person and you really don’t get a second chance to fix it. If you work at your church often, then you’re considered a good person. See how this model is flawed? If someone screws up, they’re basically given up on for the rest of their life. That’s really not fair.

———-

After debating the finer points of these arguments, the mutual conclusion was that it differs from person to person and it’s futile to try to change someone’s opinion.

So, it’s all about soul. It’s all about the stuff that’s deeper than mistakes and screw-ups. Whether it’s a matter of past regrets or present behaviors, don’t try to judge someone’s entire alignment. It’s just too damn hard.