The truth about having a good heart: you think everyone has one too. My grandfather used to tell me a smile can change someone's life. Having a good heart is a blessing and a curse all in one. For the amazing, good-hearted people, this one's for you...
1. You constantly try to make others happy before you make yourself happy.
I am super guilty of this. I've put so many plans on hold just to be there for other people. It's not fair. Having a good heart means trying to make others happy, even if it's not making you happy. It's the fact of being a good person. It's always okay to make others happy, but be sure to love yourself and make sure you're okay before you try to help others.
2. You're forgiving.
One of the things about having a good heart is that you're always forgiving. No matter how much someone has wronged you, you still try to see the good in them and hope they are better than that. Not everyone is like you, and you must remember that. People make mistakes. However, sometimes people don't deserve our forgiveness.
3. You continue to try even when you know you should walk away.
This is one of the most heartbreaking: when you don't know when to walk away. Many past friends have done me wrong, but a person with a huge heart looks past that. Forgiveness is key. Life is too short to have hate, regret or hurt. You constantly try for things you know aren't going to happen. That little ounce of hope is the one thing that kills us.
4. You don't have hate in your heart to be mean.
People are haters, and will be cruel for no reason. People like us look past that, but deep down it still hurts. It hurts when you're constantly trying to be nice to everyone and some people still don't have enough decency to be kind. Remember: life is too short to dwell on the people who don't appreciate your kindness. There are plenty of people that value and love you and everything you do. LOVE the people who LOVE you! The people that don't appreciate you don't know the real you.
5. You feel everything.
One of the downsides of having a good heart is that people will hurt you. People will make you feel less than you are. It hurts. But for us, it really really hurts. We feel everything. That ache in your chest when you know something isn't right. The way your hands and feet go pretty much numb when you see something you didn't want to see. It's inevitable. When someone hurts us, it takes us so long to get over it because we hoped for more. We wish for people to be like us. We pray for good. Sometimes, it's not always in our favor. It's okay though. The only way to learn lessons is to live through hard times.
Not all people are like us. Not all people want the best for others or want them to succeed. We do. We know there's love in this world left for people. Having a good heart can be a curse, but one day people will realize that being a good person is better than being a bad one. It costs nothing to be nice. It costs nothing to put a smile on someone's face. It costs nothing to love your life and everyone in it.
