One of the things my mother always taught me was the importance of being kind to others. Empathy, compassion, manners and overall not being a rude, mean person are all things that I can remember my mother instilling in me as early as I can remember. It's something that's stuck with me for the past 20 years. It pains me to be rude to someone and if I think I hurt someone's feelings, I practically die a little inside.

A lot of times I feel like being kind is starting to become a lost art. People don't say please or thank you or will let a door slam in your face when you have your hands full. They'll pick you apart and make fun of you, or talk about you on social media. They'll cut you in line or they'll answer you when you ask how they are but don't bother to ask how you are. They'll lie, steal and cheat.

However, I think it's very important -- if not the most important -- to be kind when facing people who aren't so kind. Maybe they're having a bad day or maybe they're just a bad apple. Regardless, show them the mercy, kindness and love that you would appreciate seeing should you be having a bad day and need a break.

One thing I never understood was when people said they would start treating people how they are treated. For one this completely goes against "the golden rule" of "treat others how you would want to be treated" that we learned when we were younger ... but why would you want to let someone else dictate your behavior? Your character?

Being kind to someone who has been cruel to you is not a poor reflection of your character or a weakness -- no, it is a strength and a reflection of that strength. For example, Matthew 5:39 says:

"But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also."

Should you let people walk all over you? No, you shouldn't. But going out of your way to be nasty to someone is so much more effort, in my opinion, than simply showing love and mercy. And isn't that what we're all supposed to be doing here, anyway?

Kindness can come in many shapes and sizes, from as simple as holding a door open when someone's hands are full, to paying their dinner tab and beyond. True kindness is colored in a way that there is no expectation for anything in return. Being kind is the right thing to do, even if we are not treated kindly in return.

When I was in high school and showed kindness to someone a lot of people did not deem worthy, I was asked, "Why are you nice to them?" I simply told anyone that asked that I wanted to be remembered as someone who was kind instead of being remembered as someone who acted ugly and rude.

Life in general, to me, is so much easier when you show nothing but love, mercy, forgiveness and kindness. I don't carry around any grudges or anger, which I think can weigh people down tremendously. There is no hate in my heart, but only love, and I want to share that with the world.