Ki**ing them with kindness.
You’ve probably heard that term before, right?
The thing about it is it actually works most of the time, too…
Have you tried it out before?
Folks took to AskReddit to talk about why they choose to be kind to people even when they don’t get kindness in return.
Let’s take a look.
1. Do it, guys!
“All you dudes out there: compliment your bros.
Cool tee? Let em know.
They trimmed the beard nice? Point it out.
Sweet new kicks? Talk about em.
Been hitting the gym? Talk about that weight loss or those biceps.
A compliment on someone’s effort makes them more likely to put effort out in the future. Kind words for your friends are an investment in their future.”
2. Relieve the stress.
“I have a tray set out on the front porch with bottles of water, Gatorade, and various snacks like bags of peanuts, beef sticks, and a variety of candy for our delivery drivers.
I know their job can be stressful and they don’t always work under the best conditions, so I do what I can to make their day a little better.
We receive a lot of deliveries, and every time I see one of them smiling after reading the note I left out their with the snacks, it makes my own day better as well.”
3. The easiest route.
“Kindness is the easiest route. You won’t get caught up in drama, you avoid avoid fights, people are more apt to help you, ec.
I’m a naturally meek person. I’d been b**lied pretty badly in the past. My coping mechanism was always to smile through it and be kind to whoever was mean to me. It throws them off and makes it harder for them to continue being mean.
I know It’s really difficult to show kindness to people who treat you awful, but it’s often the best way to get people to start treating you with respect. Fighting back and being a d**k will only make a situation worse, even if you do have to sacrifice some pride.”
4. Been there.
“Because I know how it feels when you’re down and your life sucks.
And if there’s a chance I can make just one person who feels like that have a better day and feel good for a bit, then it’s worth it.”
5. Words to live by.
“”When I was young, I used to admire intelligent people; as I grow older, I admire kind people.” ~Abraham Joshua Heschel.”
6. Amen!
“Kindness should be shown because it’s the right thing to do.
There’s already enough h**e in the world, why add more, right?”
7. Pay it forward.
“Paying it forward is a very real thing. It may not happen 100% of the time, but a lot of people get inspired by a random act of kindness and feel the need to return the favor to someone else.
I personally set a goal to perform one random act of kindness every month, whether it’s mowing an elderly neighbors grass for free, buying an extra burger or 2 and handing them out to the homeless, or pausing my commute to pull over and help someone thats having car trouble, or anything in between. I’m often offered payment, but I simply refuse the money and ask that, if they find someone struggling and they’re in a position to help, to do what they can for them.
Honestly, I’d say this is my biggest motivator. At the end of the day, every life is precious and everyone deserves to experience that life with happiness and contentment. We must also remember that this life is short and fragile, and the day it ends will be the day you cease to write your own story, and instead leave your memory in the hands of your fellow man.
We must remember how we want that story to be told, and live each day like it may end at any moment. I, personally, would like my story to inspire others to be kind and gentle human beings.”
8. I’m nice, not a moron…
“When people reciprocate it’s really lovely, but not expecting anything in return has made me a much happier person.
My life is not a bank account that I balance kindness for kindness; rather my life can be measured in the total kindness and joy and love I share with others. Trying to balance things IMO is where resentment grows.
That being said, I feel no obligation to be kind to people who are mean, unpleasant, violent etc. I’m not a moron, I’m nice. There’s a difference.”
9. It’s enough.
“If it has become kind of an instinct for you to be kind, every now and then there will be someone who’s day you make just by a small gesture.
I might not directly see it but just the knowledge that it might be the case is enough.”
10. Raise ’em right.
“I think a lot of it boils down to how you are raised, my dad came from an extremely loving family and my mum didn’t.
My dad will do anything for anyone and doesn’t expect something in return and is always pleasantly surprised when they reciprocate because that’s how he was raised. My mum made the conscious decision that she would never be like her family and is right there with my dad.
They are both so supportive of me and my brother, and by extension all of our friends because they see anyone who is part of their life a family. Lost count of the amount of times growing up we had friends stay with us because they had fallen out with their own parents.
I try to do the same, and raise my girls the same.”
11. Compliments.
“As a pushing 40 gal, I remember how rarely I got compliments after age 11 , so I try and compliment 1 stranger (usually female) every day. I work with 90 % men so I compliment them frequently as I know men don’t hear it enough too but complimenting strange men in public can backfire.
Last week I was at the mall and while passing by the food court I Saw a 15-ish-year-old girl With the most vibrantly orange hair. It was adorable and she looked like an anime character. So I made it special point to complement her on her hair and how gorgeous and looked. Girl lit up like the Fourth of July.
Said to her friend as I was leaving “I cant believe she liked my hair!” It wasn’t until I got home and was changing into my Dinosaur comfy clothes that I realized that I’m probably her mom’s age, I was like in a professional business suit/heels/pantyhose and looked like a real-got-it-together grown up and not someone who appreciates a 15 yr old neon orange box manic panic hair.
Something I read came back to me “ Be the someone you needed when you were younger”.”
Now it’s your turn.
In the comments, talk to us about why you choose to be kind to folks out there.
Thanks in advance!
