As I go about my daily life, out there in the big, wide world, I try to be a nice person. It's really important to me to be kind, and to teach my daughters that virtue as well. I hold doors for people, I offer to carry grocery bags for the elderly I see hobbling to their vehicles, I give up my seat for those that need, I always say please and thank you.
I really and truly, naively perhaps, thought that most people were conscientious enough to want to be nice to their fellow man. Huh, call me silly, but it turns out a lot of folks out there really don't care.
It makes me sad that so many people are just thinking about number 1. Their focus is on themselves, getting there first, getting or being the best, and rushing through their own little lives without a second thought to the rest of humanity.
On top of that, it turns out that to many folks, being a good person isn't really important. It's not something they strive for or aim for in their everyday lives. Again, back to themselves and what is going on only in their own small circle of the Universe.
Don't get me wrong, I know that there are many individuals out there like me. There are people doing way bigger things to improve lives and the planet. I know that there are simple folks leading simple lives and struggling to do the best they can for themselves while still being mindful of others.
It's that saying though that one rotten banana spoils the bunch. Ummm, or something like that.
It brings me down to know that there is always going to be someone to knock the wind out of your sails or to delight in your loss. Who raised these people? Seriously! I know I can only "be the change I want to see" and hope my girls emulate that in their lives.
I guess the part that has me writing this blog, today, about this topic is that the realization finally hit me. I truly thought that everyone aspired to be "a good person." Turns out, some people could care less about that moniker. Shocker!
I feel bad for them, and what they're missing out on from just doing good. That warm feeling of making someone else's day, carrying their burden or making their load a little lighter, well, they'll just never experience those things. I hope being pissy all of the time works out for them. I really do.
'Cause....I'm a good person like that.
Here's my thinking on people like that:
ReplyDelete1) There is something in their life that is hurting them and rather than be angry with them, we should feel for them.
2) No one every taught them what "good" means and again, we should feel for them.
3) They do not realize how it affects you because no on ever taught them empathy.
That's what gets me through my not-so-pleasant human encounters... (after I tell them to eff off).