There are some very good reasons to keep score.

There are some very good reasons NOT to keep score too.

If you are playing a game and you want to determine who wins, keep score.

If you are doing a favor for someone, Do Not Keep Score.

Yesterday an exchange between a couple of friends of mine on Twitter, led to this post today.

It began when Amber posted this on her Tumblr page:

Every action generates a force of energy that returns to us in like kind. What we sow is what we reap. And when we choose actions that bring happiness and success to others, the fruit of our karma is happiness and success.

Deepak Chopra

Randy responded on Twitter:

I’m not sure every action returns to us in kind – more than enough do, but that’s not the point – the act itself is the thing.

The conversation continued on Twitter with these words from Amber:

I’ve been thinking about the “we reap what we sow,” idea from an opposite angle. If we are unhappy, what actions caused it?

At this point all 3 of us were chiming in and I lost track of the order of who said what first, but here’s more:

ScLoHo (me):

Keeping score re: reap/sow isn’t a good use of time.

Randy:

Unless it’s a chance to understand, learn, and improve.

Amber:

but self reflection and analyzing actions and their effects is NOT a waste of time, lest we all remain un-evolved.

Randy:

My grandson thought ambition, striving for our best, was bad. I explained if man didn’t try to improve we’d be in caves.

And there was more but I want to wrap this up today with a reminder to give without keeping score.  If I lend someone money, I usually give what I can afford to lose. If that money comes back, then it’s an extra blessing that I was not expecting.

The other thought that comes to mind is we have no idea what impact we have on someones life at the moment.  Many times we will never know.  But I have had people come up to me days, weeks, even years later and thank me for something that I said, did, or gave that was a milestone in that persons life.

And I have had those moments too, where someone did or said something that created a change in my life.

When these moments happen and you have the opportunity to reach out to the person that had an impact on your life, tell them.  Usually a simple “Thank You for ________ “ will do.  That’s the best way to give back.

And you don’t need a score card.