Goodness is a paradox at times. When I witness souls practice goodness for everyone else but themselves, I wonder. Why? Are they aware that their good intentions melt into manipulations when their charitable acts have strings attached?

For example? My mom often wondered by her kids (including me) rarely visited her outside traditional holiday events. I learned of this quandary when I inherited her journals. My sister (who took upon herself the job of clearing out mom's apartment post funeral duties) didn't want them. She asked me for some odd reason.

Reading her journals I learned she believed herself to be a good person. A person who did all sorts of good things for other people. She seemed perplexed as to why people didn't respond in kind.

What mum failed to understand that transactional goodness is actually manipulation.

If I do something good for you expecting something good back? Yup. Manipulation. Manipulative investments - for me anywho - key sources for pain and suffering.