It Pays To Be Nice

Do you want to know what's awesome?  Nice people.  Thoughful people.  People who aren't all "me, me, me" and who take the time to think about others.  Small gesture, big gesture, doesn't matter.  What does matter, or go a long way, rather, is being nice.  And I'm happy to report that most of the people in my life are nice (I'd like to keep it that way).  For example:

Last week, after an especially long evening at work, I came home to find Adam asleep on the couch.  We chatted for a minute, and then he went back to sleep.  As I busied myself with picking up the kitchen, a pretty little package on the island caught my eye.  How had I missed it before?  It was a beautiful and incredibly thoughtful cookie arrangement, from a lovely individual with the initials JL.  (If you know her, you'll agree about the lovely part.)  Why did I get cookies?  For no reason, other than she's incredibly kind and generous and thought I could use them after having been a work widow all week.  I cried a little. Because I did.  Because at 1am, it was nice to feel special.  (Thanks again, JL.  You are the nicest.)

Being nice is so simple, and it doesn't have to involve cookie arrangements.  (But it's a nice touch.)  It makes people feel good.  It makes people happy.  And who couldn't use a little more happy?  Taken from http://shaznia.blogspot.com:

"The world today has become selfish, self-centered and indifferent. We no longer live in the days of chivalry and manners. Its every man for themselves. You snooze, you lose. Being nice is no longer a part of life. It needs to be reminded with posters and signs and even TV advertisements. It is an afterthought. Something you entertain when you have time to spare. Being nice is not considered a virtue. Merely a time filler to while away idle time and to boost up your image while you're at it. Why do you think all acts of kindness are highlighted in newspapers nowadays? Simply because true acts of kindness are rare. Why be kind or nice if you have nothing to gain from it?

If niceness is like an asset only to be used when it best suits you then why teach kids to be kind in the first place.?If they're just going to grow up to be cold-hearted and unfeeling then might as well teach them from the very beginning that being nice is not the best way to go. So what if they're bullies when they're just gonna grow up into bigger bullies?

But me being the oddball of the 21st century, I still believe that a little act of kindness will go a long way. To this very day I still remember and how a kind young man gave up his seat for me simply because he saw that I gave up my seat for an elderly man. If me, one little person, can propel another individual to do an act of kindness than I'm sure 10 other person can do the same.

William Wordsworth once said that "the best portion of a good man's life is his little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and love". So be kind and nice people, because niceness is NOT overrated.

 

It pays to be nice.  If for no other reason than you get a semi-anonymous shout-out in a fairly obscure blog, it does.  Because people never forget you when you are nice.  At least, I won't.

(And if you are currently in the process of being a jerk, just stop.  It'll be easier on you and people will really appreciate it.  And even if I don't know you, if you let me know how you stopped being a jerk, I will give you a shout out, as well.  It's that important to me.)