There isn’t enough nice.
In the world in general. We aren’t nice. We think we are nice. We think we smile at strangers enough. We dont. We think we are nice to our parents enough. We aren’t. Do we call them just to say hi? Text them in the middle of the day and say “I love you mom.” Probably not enough.
Here’s What I think
I think as a nation as a people as a person I, we, everyone needs to be nicer. Why aren’t we nicer?
After last week I thought to myself. Are we nice to everyone? Regardless of weight, height, color, religion, political beliefs? Do we make snarky comments to people and think they are funny but maybe they dont. Maybe we dont realize when we are being mean.
I know this sounds like rambles but this has been running through my mind even before what happened in Boston, then in Dallas with the Kaufman County DA and his wife. Then I saw the response of people in Boston, People in West, First responders, strangers, people across the country immediately thinking of what they should do.
Then I thought wow this is wonderful but also kind of sad. Because this only happens in tragedies. This doesn’t happen in everyday life. We walk around Malls, drive in our cars staring straight ahead, we go about our days, not noticing people. Not seeing them. Not knowing whats going on in their lives. Then tragedies happen and people jump, they jump to help and to donate.
We aren’t nice in the everyday. I know some of you are thinking “But Im nice.” I am sure you are nice. I am not saying you aren’t nice. I am saying we need to be nice to everyone all the time. What a difference that could make in their day.
Lately I’ve been paying for the person behind me at Starbucks almost daily. I realize I am spending a lot of money but I am really hoping it brightens those peoples days. Maybe they had a bad morning. Maybe a fight with a loved one, or a speeding ticket on the way to work and that Starbucks made their day a little better. SO they smiled at someone in the elevator and that person helped out a co-worker, then that co-worker went home and cooked dinner for his wife, who in turn did his laundry and that fight they had the night before was forgotten.
My hope is that all these little things trickle down and make people nicer.
I want to be nicer.
Funny that you should post this. Yesterday, my coworkers and I were just talking about this. As someone who lives in Boston, people have been abnormally nice these last couple weeks. Its really appreciated by the people who might need it at that time (and many of us do need it). But unfortunately, I don’t think it will last. People here generally aren’t as nice as we’re being represented lately – we seem to be getting a really good reputation. They say New Yorkers are rude – but apparently the people who say that haven’t traveled north to Boston. I’m from Seattle where people go out of their way to hold a door for someone 20-30 feet behind them. You accidentally bump into someone and apologize, even though it was their fault. Thats nice. Here, in Boston, its ‘me first’ or you dont acknowledge other people. Again, unfortunately I dont think it will last. I agree, people need to be nicer. You never know who your around, and what their dealing with. A simple NICE comment might be all they need..
You are so right. I have been thinking about it too lately. And somewhere people tend to be the meanest is on the Internet. I was very upset over what I saw on the Internet when a new pope had been chosen. The news channels had announced it and I swear about 90% of the comments were so negative. I was just shocked by the number of negative, rude comments. Is this really how we all are to each other? I don’t understand why people have to be so mean! Life is too short to spend it being miserable and nasty to other people. Don’t people want to enjoy life? I’d rather have a smile on my face and hopefully put a smile on someone else’s.
I completely agree. I feel like this nation only reaches out to others when some sort of tragedy occurs.
I am not sure that it is we are not nice enough, although I am sure we could use more of it. I think we have become so entangled in modern technology and lost actual face to face contact that we have forgotten how to act in society. So much gets ignored online, we have the ability to be anonymous in our anger and meanness and forget when it comes to face to face. I think we miss the small things everyday that are proof there is still hope. We just have to look for it instead of the bad.
I think we could all be a little nicer and at the very least, spread more love. It’s hard to remember these things when we’re so blessed but there are SO many other people out there that aren’t. Thanks for the reminder biffle 🙂
I could not agree more. I live in Minnesota and there is a saying, “Minnesota Nice.” It’s not true, although we would like to think it is. All of the “me first; me, me, more me now” needs to stop because it sure hasn’t gotten us very far. Thank you for this post; the people I work with will benefit! 🙂
Neely you are so right. I noticed that in the last few years people are more mean and the world is meaner then every before I started an experiment when out on the walking trail, of saying hello to everyone that passed me. On average every day, about 5=6 people would roll their eyes, make a rude comment and not say hello. The others always say hello, but some groups of women walking together always make snarky comments about me after they did a false hello. As they know I could hear them! I noticed in the grocery stores, all stores, everywhere people are rude and mean. What happened to manners? I was brought up to use good manners and be respectful at all times. I think being nice is a sign of class, good breeding and well just being a nice person. I recently grew so tired of the nastiness and meanness I moved to another state and am loving living where people are kind, In CA I noticed that people in lines used the time waiting to ridicule others and loudly make fun of the people around them! That is unacceptable behavior for any adult but I saw it all the time. If you dared speak with kindness to a clerk the other in line became agitated and made fun of you. I saw so many rolling eyes all the time I was getting dizzy! Rolling your eyes at someone is so low class and not something I every do. It was as if the entire world had reverted to dirty low class schoolyard behavior of the lowest type. Now I live where people are determined to be kind and I feel so much better. I am treated with respect and I treat others with respect. Its a better way of life and how I grew up.
So Lexie, what state do you currently live in? (I’m curious!) 🙂
Amen! All of this … Just all of it!
We were just wondering this the other day. My son is learning about “sharing” with those who have less, and he asked me why don’t people help other people more. I had no answer. We totally do just stare blankly ahead and go on about our days. I’m with you, break the cycle! Annnnd, kudos to the Starbucks thing. It’s like 5 bucks, and if you have it … It’s a great thing. I would cry if I were behind you. I know a lot of people would appreciate it … A lot.
Thank you for this post.
I really truly love this like a lot! We need more people like you in this world Neely!!
Amen!! Great post, Neely.
I love the “pay it forward” idea. Unfortunately I don’t practice it enough. Thanks for the reminder!
I was just teaching this to some kids at church a couple weeks ago. E were taking about bullying and why people think it’s okay to be mean. I wish everyone made more of an effort just to be nice!
I freakin’ love this post. It really made me feel like I needed to try harder to be NICE. I get so irritated and frustrated with people so easily. I just need to take a step back, take a deep breath and just BE NICE. Thank you for this reminder. 🙂
Great post!
I couldn’t agree with you more. I think so many of us get so caught up in the day to day that we forget about those around us until something serves as a wake-up call. The world would be so much better with more people life you!