Why Is It So Hard To Be Kind?

You humans are a strange lot. On one hand you marvel about how complex and marvelous the human body is; on the other hand you can’t wait to commit genocide against all those human bodies. Seems like a contradiction to me, but what do I know? Call me naïve.

You know, Chris McCandless had the right idea but just the wrong venue. Getting away from the craziness of the world is a superb idea, starving to death in a bus abandoned in the Alaskan wilderness is another. It’s probably better to be a hermit in plain site. At least you’re around food and water.

Which brings me to the theme of this post: why is it so hard to be kind? It’s like pulling teeth just to get someone to give you space to enter the road in your car from a driveway. It’s like pulling teeth to get someone to hold the door open for you. It’s like pulling teeth for someone to reciprocate your act of kindness with a “Thank You.” It’s like pulling teeth to give grandma your spot in  the food bank line or your seat at the front of the bus. It’s like pulling teeth to help someone who has fallen. It’s like pulling teeth to give an obviously schizophrenic man a break despite the endless stream of sentences he’s speaking to no one.

Would it kill you to not noisily smack your lips and mouth when you’re eating?

Would it kill you to silence your phone at a restaurant?

Would it kill you to keep your voice down while you’re on the phone in a public space?

Would it kill you to give someone a ride if they don’t have bus fare?

Would it kill you to apologize to someone you’ve bumped into  in the street?

I could go on and on but you see my point. Kindness costs nothing but its rewards are plenty. Then again, I’m probably garden variety crazy.