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Politics and Activism

Kindness Will Not Get You Everything, but it Will Get You Respect

And that does matter.

Zoe Spilker

Mar 28, 2016

Indiana University

239

Kindness Will Not Get You Everything, but it Will Get You Respect

Being nice is not easy. Nobody can do the right thing all the time. That is an unrealistic expectation we place on others we presume are always going to be nice and willing to help out. People often complain about how hard it is to be nice and how being nice never gets you anywhere. No, being nice alone will not get you everything you want out of life, but it will get you respect, which is the next best thing.

I recently read an article describing the struggles of being a nice person. It said people take advantage of nice people. They assume you have no backbone and are not able to stand up for yourself. Friends may not all be true, and sometimes people only grow close to you because they think they can use you. You do not have to be a certified “nice person” for these things to happen to you though. That is just how life works. At the end of the day some people rock, and some people suck.

We all know the whole “nice guys finish last” cliché too. Apparently girls never go for the nice guys. They only like to surround themselves with douchebags and guys who do not treat them right. That isn’t a fact of life though, it’s just immaturity. Nobody gets excited to tell their friends how much of a moron their new guy is. Nobody wants to bring a jerk home to meet Mom and Dad. So, nice guys, stop feeling sorry for yourselves; you have a lot going for you.

I am tired of hearing people complain about being too nice. Is it easy to be nice all of the time? No. Will being nice get you everywhere you want to be in life? No. Will being nice make everyone fall in love with you all the time? No. It will earn you respect though. Respect will get you far. People generally trust nice people. They will feel comfortable counting on you. Your kindness is not a burden; it is a blessing.

I am a firm believer that what goes around, comes back around. I am not talking about some huge karmic presence in the universe dishing out bad news to people who deserve it, but rather a simple truth in life. If you are nice to people, you will earn their respect. Good things come when people genuinely respect each other.

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Kindness Will Not Get You Everything, but it Will Get You Respect

And that does matter.

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The Best Lines from the Fab Four

And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make

The sun is up, the sky is blue, it's beautiful and so are you

Love is old, love is new, love is all, love is you

There's nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be

Life is very short, and there's no time for fussing and fighting, my friend

He say, "I know you, you know me", One thing I can tell you is you got to be free

Oh please, say to me, You'll let me be your man. And please say to me, You'll let me hold your hand

It was twenty years ago today, Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play. They've been going in and out of style, but they're guaranteed to raise a smile

Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see

Can you hear me? When it rains and shine, it's just a state of mind

Little darling, it's been long cold lonely winter. Little darling, it feels like years since it' s been here. Here comes the sun, Here comes the sun, and I say it's alright

We danced through the night and we held each other tight, and before too long I fell in love with her. Now, I'll never dance with another when I saw her standing there

I love you, I love you, I love you, that's all I want to say

You say you want a revolution. Well you know, we all want to change the world

All the lonely people, where do they all come from. All the lonely people, where do they all belong

Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends

Hey Jude, don't make it bad. Take a sad song and make it better

Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away. Now it looks as though they're here to stay. Oh, I believe in yesterday

And when the brokenhearted people, living in the world agree, there will be an answer, let it be.

And anytime you feel the pain, Hey Jude, refrain. Don't carry the world upon your shoulders

I'll give you all I got to give if you say you'll love me too. I may not have a lot to give but what I got I'll give to you. I don't care too much for money. Money can't buy me love

All you need is love, love is all you need

Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

Blackbird singing in the dead of night, Take these broken wings and learn to fly. All your life, You were only waiting for this moment to arise

Though I know I'll never lose affection, for people and things that went before. I know I'll often stop and think about them. In my life, I love you more

Obviously the best superpower.

There have been many lessons learned.

1. The importance of traditions.

2. How to be thankful for family and friends.

3. How to give back.

4. What the word "community" really means.

5. That it isn't about the destination, but the journey.

6. The consequences of making bad choices.

7. To trust people, until you have a reason not to.

8. To be welcoming and accepting of everyone.

9. How to be my own, individual person.

10. How to work for what I want.

11. How to be great at giving directions.

12. How to be humble.

13. To be well-rounded.

14. How to be great at conflict resolution.

15. The beauty of getting outside and exploring.

16. To be prepared for anything.

17. That you don't always have to do it alone.

18. How to be creative.

19. To brush off gossip.

I have never been so thankful to know you.

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

Don't freak out

Email the professor

Attend the first class

Keep attending class

Have a backup plan

Remember that everything works out at the end

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