KINDNESS IS ITS OWN REWARD
Learn How Simple Acts of Kindness Will Spread Positive Energy In The World
 | In today’s blinged out society where material success is worshipped alongside snotty celebs and the newest fads, kindness often takes a backseat to flashier virtues, like ambition and social savvy. Being kind can be seen as weakness, and in fact the idea that “nice guys finish last” is seemingly upheld by the plethora of bad men and women who make it to the top despite being far less than kind. |
However, what we see championed in the media does not necessarily hold true in the lives of normal human beings. While snarky females and born-to-be-bad males make for good TV, in real life both men and women rate kindness as the top trait for potential mates. Kindness outranks physical attractiveness, humor, financial stability and intellect when looking for a life partner. Everyone can agree that they would rather be around someone who is considerate of other people and benevolent to their fellow human beings. Some might take this as a reason to be kind: be nice and you will find a mate, but truly kindness is a goal in and of itself. One should strive to be nice not in order to get something in return, but for the simple fact that it is good to be kind. Nice people are happier. They live longer, have fewer diseases, and believe it or not- more friends. Being kind is its own reward.
If you want to be kind in order to be appreciated or get something in return, you will almost always be disappointed. Maybe you pick up litter, but no one notices. Perhaps you let someone in front of you in the checkout line, and she doesn’t even say thank you. Or you work all day long to meet a team deadline, and no one seems to even realize you did the extra work. We are all familiar with these circumstances, and the best and only way to avoid them is to be kind for one reason and one reason only- because you want to be.
Be kind because you want to spread positive energy in the world, to create smiles, to leave people a little happier than you found them. The world has enough catty females, however it will never have enough kind women. Choose to be the latter.
SIMPLE WAYS TO BE KIND
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Treat every human interaction like a human interaction- say “thank you” to the drive-through cashier, “please” to your barista, and “How are you?” to someone who is not suspecting it.
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Let traffic go ahead of you.
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Smile at people in line with you.
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Buy flowers for your girl friends for no reason.
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Call your parents and tell them you love them.
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Tell an artist who has made your world more beautiful just that.
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Sign every email with “Have a great day/week/weekend.”
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Give someone your seat on the bus.
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Offer your friend a ride to the airport when you know he/she needs one- or a night of babysitting, or an evening on the town.
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Shilo Urban is a freelance writer who has just relocated to Los Angeles after her previous homes of Seattle, New Zealand, Paris, Maine, and Austin. She is an active member of the West Coast electronic music community and lives to promote the art that she loves and the people who create it.
