Why You Should Be Nice to Everyone
As a child, most are taught the golden rule… treat others how you want to be treated. This is an important thing to teach kids but I think that humans need a reminder sometimes. You never know what someone is going through and being nice just by saying hello could actually make a big difference. I’m not saying be so nice to everyone that it holds you down. It is important to find the line between being nice and putting yourself last. There are lots of reasons you should be nice to everyone.
You’re driving on the highway and a car zooms up behind you and is driving way too close to you. There’s cars on both sides of you so they can’t pass. What do you do? Do you break-check them? Do you speed up a little and move over so they can pass? Do you flick them off in your mirror? If you take an angrier approach and think “well they shouldn’t be speeding and they’re being dangerous,” you’re not wrong. But what if they’re on their way to the hospital because they got a call saying that their son or daughter got in a car crash. Break-checking them or flicking them off is some people’s go-to move but you have no idea what’s going through their mind. Don’t be the reason to stress out someone who is already as desperately stressed as they can be with worry. It doesn’t take a lot of energy just to move over when you can safely and let them pass you. Chances are they’re just someone who prefers to speed but you never know.
When I was 17 and working as a host at The Buffet at Mystic Lake Casino, my supervisor introduced me to the Voice of Mystic Lake. He was super energetic and, to be completely honest, I didn’t have a ton of energy after working most of my shift. I put on a smile and I talked to him and I made that connection. Fast forward three years… I hadn’t seen him since then but I reached out to him via LinkedIn inquiring about an internship and he got me a job as a Marketing Coordinator. Another reason to be nice to everyone, even if it seems a bit selfish, is to network. As a 17 year old I did not think I would still be working at Mystic Lake and I was not thinking about networking. I was just thinking about making money to hang out with friends and to start saving for college. You never know what kinds of doors can be opened just by being pleasant and kind to people, even if you don’t really have the energy or don’t think you’ll see them again.
It doesn’t take that much energy to just be nice and it could have a big impact for them or for you. An article by Narendra Sharma, discusses the many benefits to being kind to others. He explains that being kind to others can ease your own anxiety, can create friendships, that kindness comes back to you, and a few others.
It doesn’t take a lot to just be kind, but there is more you can do to help you get into that mindset.
Read 9 Reasons To Be Nice To Everyone (Even the Jerks Who Are Mean to You) by Kiki Coffman
Say hi, smile, or even just head nod to everyone you pass the next time you’re out on a walk or at the mall.
Leave a comment below of a small gesture someone did for you that made you feel awesome.