It starts as the kindergarten code of conduct when you’re new to tableside manners. We’re reminded to “treat people how you want to be treated” and “be kind” often enough to where we expect no less from one another. But then you get a little older and you start to see the lessons kindergarten never taught you; the biggest lesson of all being how people are so damn insufferable.
Everyone knows the golden rule of kindness. Being nice gets you far, you could make someone’s day, always be the bigger person, blah blah blah. We all collectively understand the benefits of being nice to one another, so why does it seem exhausting to actually be nice sometimes?
Bad Days
The biggest reason why people are angry is never because of other people. In fact, it’s almost always because of themselves. It’s the built-up aggression from all of the stressful assignments you have yet to complete. It’s the irritation from losing sleep or stubbing your toe.
It’s the bad days that everyone has. These bad days have a worse effect than people realize. The more negative things that build up, the more likely we are to lose our minds on some poor, unsuspecting student barista. Sometimes it may even be on your own best friend (who was just asking to borrow your top for tonight).
Even if someone else is constantly berating or running their mouth to everyone about you, it’s up to you to “be the bigger person.” Who actually coined that phrase anyway? Since when do we turn the other cheek if someone is being rude to us? Why are we expected to be nice to the worst kind of people?
Regardless of society’s kindness standards, nobody actually tries to be kind to one another. We’re all so wrapped up in our own worlds that it gets frustrating
The Bright Side
As finals dawn upon us, it seems like everyone is experiencing their bad days. Assignments are piling up, deadlines are failing to be met and there is not enough time in a day to study for all of your exams.
With that being a good enough reason to shut the world out and hiss at anyone who comes near, there is an alternative view to this. Maybe now more than ever, we have to retreat back to our kindergarten days and treat people how we would want to be treated.
Think about it, really. If a stranger bought your coffee just for the sake of being kind, wouldn’t that make you feel so good? Couldn’t that be your gentle reminder that you’re doing the best you can? Putting your best foot forward is almost impossible when it feels like the odds are against you at all times. But at the end of the day, we’re all in this together.
Tweet us on X @VALLEYmag with your favorite way to be kind!
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