Are you good? Are you bad? Are you human?

If you could sit down and write out a list of every characteristic a person must posses to be a good person, what would your list include? What would be your number one characteristic that he/she must possess to be seen as acceptable in your eyes? Would you be lenient or are these written in stone?

Genuine goodness is something that we possess deep within our hearts. We go through life showing and sometimes trying to convince people that we are an overall good person. Thus making them accepting of us. There are times where I have felt like I was a good person, but still did things that wouldn't be acceptable to people that I care about. There are also other times where I felt like I was a horrible person when I made even the tiniest little mistake. I think that everyone has standards and opinions about the people that are closest to us. We love them even if they aren't the people that we wish they were or we think they could be. Some people have a few characteristics that depict a good person, but may have characteristics that overshadow the good. A person may give you the shirt off their back, but turn around and rob a bank. A genuinely good person stands firm by the definition of good, in public as well as private. They are consistent in character. They are real.

My list of Characteristics of someone who I define as good, and the person that I strive to be now and in the future include:

Kindness
Good people I believe radiate kindness. They will do the things that not only help but benefit others. They see when someone is in need, even if the task is small they are there to lend a hand to them. They show by their actions that they can and will be there in time of need. People who are kind don't allow themselves to neglect other people. They will go out of their way to show people that they can be counted on.

Authenticity
A person who goes through life wearing masks, being deceptive, but occasionally shows good characteristics, isn't authentic. They are playing a character. An authentically good person is transparent and shows the who they are consistently, allowing other people the ability to trust them.

Respectful
A good person respects others, but this respect comes from respect they have for themselves. They value their own worth, their own feelings as well as others. They listen attentively because your thoughts and feelings matter. They open their mind to the differences in thoughts and opinions without making you feel less or judging unfairly. They may not agree with you, but they are respectful.

Courage
A good person stands firm for their beliefs, not just when it's comfortable, but when anything threatens to come between themselves and their beliefs. They rise above adversity and hold faith they can endure the storms in life.

Honest and Trustworthy
A good person is trustworthy and honest. They don't get pleasure from hurting others.You won't be left with doubts as to who they are or where you stand with them. Their word is truth and filled with honesty.

Compassionate
Compassion comes from the heart of a good person. It extends from the heart to others and offers empathy, support and understanding. A compassionate person feels the others pain as if it were their own. They are willing to reach out and offer comfort. They are the type that won't mind if you call at 2am if you need a shoulder to cry on.

Forgiving
Forgiveness is a characteristic of a good person. They let go of resentment, the anger and bitterness. They don't allow the bad to overcome the joy in their lives and the joy they can offer to others. They unfold a loving heart without seeking revenge. They aren't a door mat to be walked on, but realize we all make mistakes.

But most of all being a genuinely good person is a choice. A choice that we make and a choice that ultimately tells people who we really are. What we stand for and what were made of. Are you a good person?