Every single day when we go out into the world (physically or virtually), we have a choice of how we’re going to interact with the people around us. We can choose to be huffy, short, and rude – or we can choose to give people grace until they show us that they don’t deserve it.
These 16 people have decided to opt for kindness whenever possible, and below they’re giving us their reasons for making that choice.
16. You have to know where to draw the line.
Just how I am.
Side note, don’t let people take advantage of your trait.
15. There are two sides to every story.
it may sound stupid, but i know the other side.
a friend once said “the kindest people are usually the ones that had a rough life. they don’t want others to go through the same pain they did”
and honestly i couldn’t agree more its the exact same reason why i try my best to be kind.
14. Because there’s enough crap out there.
I seen a lot of s*%t, I see a lot of s*%t daily, I’m bombarded with tragedy from all angles often, people in unfortunate positions in life find a way to befriend me
I myself am accustomed to rock bottom and have grown to not mind it
That being said, knowing how s*%tty it is, and knowing how hard people handle tragedy, whenever opportunity comes where I can take the brunt or turn the other cheek per say, or smile while eating a s*%t sandwich I do.
I’m a strong person, in stature and mental, so to take on this load, for me adding it to my pile is negligible it’s just what it is has no impact on me, I embrace and just keep going, if it makes life harder well that’s fine, that’s just a perspective of hard or easy.
I do it for you, all of you
13. It could impact someone.
Not only is it easier.
But it could have a powerful impact on someone. It could help improve their mood if their day has been rough.
It could help a homeless person remember there are people who DO care.
I know I’d feel bad if I saw someone having a bad time and didn’t try to help, if possible.
12. To make the world a little brighter.
I’m pretty average and I won’t have any huge accomplishments in my life but I’ll die happy knowing I left this world a little better than I found it.
Even if that just means making someone’s day a little brighter.
11. Because someone needs that.
Because of where I come from.
The way I see it, when you’ve come from a less-than-ok past, there’s usually two ways people channel the aftermath of all the things they had to live through. There are those who take that hurt and pain and they hate the world for it, they hate people in general for what they represent, and see no reason to be kind to a world that was never kind to them. Alternatively, there are those who take that hurt and pain, and they say “nobody else should ever have to feel the things I’ve felt every day of my life. I did not deserve that, and neither does anyone else”.
I am in the latter category. Nobody else should ever have to feel what I felt every day of my life. I want to be the person that I needed when I was a kid.
10. It will make other people happy.
My life is miserable most of the time; that doesn’t mean I get to/want to make other people miserable as well.
I really enjoy making someone smile or laugh- it makes ME feel a lot better about things.
9. No one can take that choice away.
Being kind was the one thing my dad and step mom could never take away from me.
But damn, did they try. 35 years later, I find myself healing childhood wounds through one simple practice: being kind.
8. What goes around comes around.
Karma.
What goes around comes around.
You reap what you sow.
Be the change you want to see in the world.
And my favorite: “Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.”
7. No one likes that.
Being a meanie makes me feel yucky.
6. They had a good learning experience.
When I was 16 and first went to Dubai by myself I was your typical teenager who gave no shits if I talked rudely, snapped at people I didn’t like or be unnecessarily sarcastic.
Generally, I’m pretty quiet and try my best to be polite but puberty (not an excuse) and wanting to get anything just over with made me not want to interact longer than I had to.
I was seated (middle seat) beside an Italian guy (aisle seat) or at least European but his accent told me he’s either an actual Italian or he’s lived there for a long time. He was really polite to the flight staff. Every sentence had “thank you’s” & “please”.
Didn’t complain once when asked to have extra stuff during the flight when they were taking too long (according to me). Seemed genuinely interested why I was going alone at 16 and why I do not a have a single guardian with me. Even helped me get my bag up the overhead shelf thing multiple times. I
know it might look creepy but it made me feel a bit embarrassed in how I was acting toward other people. I know I look like a child (still do because genes) and I get free passes from foreigners because I look like a minor (was a minor at the time) but it was a pretty good learning experience.
Now, “the sun shines out of my ass” per my work best friend.
5. It could make the world a better place.
I just want the world to be a better place and I want good people around me and not toxic kids.
4. The pain stops here.
Just too much pain, wouldn’t want anyone else to share that pain
3. To break the chain.
I figure there is so much hate going around, break the chain and be kind to someone. To you, it might not be much.
But to them, it might be the first time in days someone has said hi to them
2. To break the cycle.
Because my entire f**king family is negative and now I have to be the balance.
They hate it when I’m negative though.
1. Others are watching.
Lead by example, or at least try.
I think these folks are on the right track, and they’re probably happier for it!
Why do you think choosing kindness is the best way to go through life? Tell us about it in the comments!
