By Ghada Anbar

What does it mean to be a good Samaritan or a good citizen? If it means to be socially active by benefiting the community, then what should we be doing?

For many people, a good citizen is someone who gives charity to the poor, or perhaps someone who will take on the challenge when disaster hits. In some countries, for example, being good citizens means coming together as one force and doing something towards the greater good of their community, or helping out other communities of underprivileged countries. A recent example was the calamity that hit Haiti; a devastating earthquake that killed and injured thousands and left millions homeless. Everyone around the world rushed to help the Haitians, whether by donating food and money, volunteering in relief and rescue teams, or creating online support groups…etc.

But being a good citizen doesn’t stop there. We don’t need something big and bad to happen to bring out the good in us. We can be good citizens everyday by practicing small things that may not take that much effort. Like being a friendly neighbor and saying hello to your neighbors when you pass by in the hallway or the street, or by being a responsible driver and letting someone go ahead of you, or by picking up a piece of trash from the ground. You could teach someone something that you enjoy which you’re good at, do something kind to a friend who’s going through a rough patch, celebrate your colleagues’ birthdays at work, treat both your parents to a nice dinner at a fancy restaurant… The choices are endless!

Simply put, by being good human beings and having the right behavior and ethics, we are being good Samaritan. Being an upright citizen also doesn’t mean that you have to always be physically doing something. Through staying informed and in touch with what’s going on in your community as well as spreading awareness on any events and happenings, you are contributing to the well being of your society and everyone in it, and ultimately enhancing the spirit of the community itself. You’ll also be giving others the chance to get involved in what you yourself might not have the time or the means to participate in.

Here are some other great ideas on how to be a good citizen:

• Clean the beach.
• Paint over vandalizing graffiti.
• Encourage someone who did something good.
• Raise funds for a charity or a good cause.
• Volunteer at hospitals.
• Help two friends overcome a fall out.
• Babysit for a relative or a friend.
• Plant a tree.
• Coach a kids league sports team.
• Form a book club.

And most importantly, show your appreciation when someone does something nice for you! Whether by simply saying “Thank You” or paying back their act of kindness, it’s important to give back in order to spread the spirit of goodwill, tolerance and generosity, which are all traits that are not foreign to our religion, culture, and upbringing. Yet we need a small reminder and a little push every now and then.