As someone who has recently faced the wrath of unkindness in the form of being dumped through a half-assed text, I can assuredly say that we could all benefit from being a little kinder to one another. I don’t mean that you should go out of your way to be blatantly, exaggeratedly friendly to every stranger you meet, but rather you should think twice about the ill effects of your actions.
I was recently driving on the freeway, when another car aggressively, without warning, cut me off, causing me to slam on my breaks and spill coffee all over myself. Without giving it much thought, I gave him the finger and sped past him. Although it may have been warranted, my decision to flip this stranger off undoubtedly did not change what had happened or make me feel any better, but rather, it spread the kind of animosity and bitterness that we, as a people, are far too saturated in.
Using a turn signal is such a basic expression of thoughtfulness and humility, yet so many people blatantly choose to forgo it, myself included from time to time. By choosing to not use a turn signal, it subtly suggests to me, and every other driver within sight, that you think that where you are going is more important than where I am going, and that, right there, is the type of thinking that breeds animosity and unkindness. If everyone had the thoughtfulness to use their turn signals while driving, the world would be a slightly kinder place to live in, so I urge you to take the extra half second and use your turn signal–for the sake of human kindness.
It’s no secret that acting with compassion can make you feel a little giddier inside. It’s like when you watch someone open a really thoughtful gift – it makes you feel really good to make them happy. Living compassionately helps to broaden our perspectives and allows us to empathize with others in a way that would otherwise not be possible. Being kind to one another further breeds a sense of connection to each other which is beneficial to both mental and physical health through forming social connections that are crucial to the health of society.
Being kind often acts as a chain reaction; when you are kind to people, they are more likely to be kind to one another as well, so pass on the thoughtfulness every chance you get. It might surprise you to see the gratefulness that people exhibit for even the smallest acts of kindness. The Dalai Lama said, “Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.” So the next time you want to break up with someone over text, don’t. And the next time you want to change lanes, use your turn signal. For the sake of being kind to one another, think about the ripple effect of your seemingly and mistakenly insignificant choices.