The Mistakes of Good People - By Michael Plaatjies

Written By: Michael Plaatjies

Category: Creative Non-fiction

Competition: Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026

In "The Mistakes of Good People," Michael Plaatjies offers a compelling exploration into the intricacies of human nature and kindness. Submitted for the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026, this piece of creative non-fiction delves into the often-overlooked pitfalls faced by good people. Plaatjies, with his keen insights, challenges the notion that goodness is synonymous with perfection, urging readers to reflect on personal growth and discernment. This submission is a thoughtful examination of how kindness, though inherently virtuous, requires wisdom and understanding to truly flourish.

About the Work

Michael Plaatjies' "The Mistakes of Good People" resonates with a profound theme of self-reflection and personal growth. Through an articulate narrative, Plaatjies emphasizes the importance of discernment and wisdom in the practice of kindness. The work is rich with imagery and metaphors, drawing parallels between human behavior and the natural world to illustrate its message. The piece serves as a reminder that even the best intentions require careful consideration to avoid being misconstrued or taken advantage of.

The Mistakes of Good People

Original Submission by Michael Plaatjies

THE MISTAKES OF GOOD PEOPLE

Most people think that the only people who make mistakes are those with a bad personality. Being far much better than others it doesn't mean that you are perfect. Even good people they also have their own mistakes.

Some people they don't want to work on their personality simply because they have a good character. Being a good person doesn't stop you from improving your personality because there's no limitations in growth. Even when you're excellent, you can still improve yourself to become extreme.

The mistake that is made by a lot of good people they think majority is good just like them. They feel sorry and give attention to everyone. They want to satisfy and please everyone. Most of the times they put other people first and they put themselves second. This kind of

behavior is wrong if it's what you always do because sometimes you need to count yourself first, then sometimes you can sacrifice and put others first. Don't invest your time to everyone as much you can't plant a seed to every soil. Some good seeds they will never germinate if they're being planted in a wrong place. Know how to do good in a correct way. No solder can apply kindness and sympathy in the battlefield. A solder that sympathise with the enemy will be killed by the same enemy. Do things in the right way in order to produce good results. You might be good yet you lack discernment to discern a disguising wolf. They're even kind to the enemy that came to destroy them.

Just because you're kind, don't think everyone will also respond friendly just like you. The goodness of many people is being misused and misinterpreted. The more you are too understanding, the more they take advantage of your kindness in the wrong way. Don't think the same good treatment that you are giving to others, it's the same treatment that you'll always receive back.

We have people who will really appreciate you, and there are those no matter how you can be supportive it means nothing to them. Instead of them appreciating you, they behave as if you owe them. You'll never be recognized and appreciated by everyone in life. No matter how you can be good but you'll never be loved by everyone.

It's important to know the kind of people that you can surround yourself with. Surround yourself with people who are grateful and who value you.

No matter how a chick can be kind to a snake, a snake won't see kindness but food to eat. No matter how a rabbit can be humble to a python, a python won't see humbleness but food to eat. No matter how you can be good, but the moment you surround yourself with ungrateful people, your goodness will mean nothing.

Don't trust easily as a good person, and don't be open to everyone. Stop explaining yourself to everyone. Most good people they think bad things won't happen to them because they are good. Being a good person it doesn't mean that bad things won't happen to you. Goodness can turn into danger if it's used in a wrong way. Showing kindness to a python is applying goodness in a wrong way. Good things need to be done correctly, and not anyhow. Having a good characteristic of understanding it doesn't mean that you have to understand everything. Sometimes, you need to understand that this doesn't make sense, and sometimes, you need to understand that this is totally wrong. Sometimes, you need to understand that this is not how things are done.

There way you see, it's not how everyone view things. There way you see yourself, that's not how everyone see you. People don't view things from your own perspective. You are not the mind and the character of everyone, but your own. A python doesn't think like a chick, and animals don't think like human beings. Evil people don't think like good people.

Being kind it doesn't mean that be ignorant and blind. It's good to be kind, but don't take things for granted. You need to be very sensitive and observant as a good person otherwise they will take advantage of your humanity and use it in the wrong way.

Matthew 5 vs 37

Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’...

Most good people are afraid to say no because they don't want to disappoint anyone. Even when they feel like they have to say no, they will say yes. One of the greatest weakness of people who are too kind, they're failing to say,"No." Learn to say no were it's necessary because it's not everything that is pleasing and beneficial. It's not a sin to say no because even the Bible teaches us to say, "No." Say, yes, only were you truly understand. Don't agree to anything that you don't want, and to anything that you don't understand. Learn to voice out as a good person if there's something that you don't like.

Most of the times good people they sympathise easily, forgetting that some other people are pretending, lying, and acting. Don't entertain every tear and sad face that you see; and don't entertain every word you hear. Some tears, sad faces, and convincing words are meant to feed their habits.

You might feel sorry for them, yet they're pretending so that they get money from you to feed their bad habits. Some people lie in order for them to get something from you.

The mistake that most good people do, they think they're good in everything. Having a lot of good characteristics it doesn't mean that you are complete and perfect. Discover your own weaknesses as a good person and deal with them. Weaknesses are not meant to be accepted but to be converted into strong characteristics.

It's very important to have understanding, discernment, and to be very observant. Ask God to give you wisdom, understanding, and accurate discernment. Wisdom will help you to escape problems and will also help you to apply intelligence correctly. Understanding will help you to calculate your situation correctly and apply knowledge very successfully.

Discernment will help you to be able to differentiate between what is right and wrong. Stand your ground as a good person and stand for your own rights.

MISTAKES OF GOOD PEOPLE By Michael Plaatjies

About the Competition

The Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 by Hashtag Kalakar is a prestigious platform celebrating diverse voices in literary arts. This competition invites participants from around the globe to showcase their talents in poetry, short stories, essays, and creative writing. It aims to foster creativity, encourage expression, and connect writers within a vibrant community. The competition is a testament to Hashtag Kalakar's commitment to nurturing the literary arts and providing a stage for aspiring and established writers alike.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Michael Plaatjies for his insightful contribution, "The Mistakes of Good People," to the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. His work challenges us to reconsider our perceptions of kindness and personal growth. We are grateful for his participation and look forward to seeing his continued exploration of these vital themes in the future.

About Hashtag Kalakar

Hashtag Kalakar is a creative platform dedicated to providing artists, writers, singers and other creative talents with opportunities to showcase their work and reach wider audiences through competitions, features and creative initiatives.