Let me begin by telling you an epic tale.
My wonderful father got his Master's Degree in the most thrilling area you could possibly get a degree in.
Library Science.
Didn't know that was a thing? Well, neither did I. Until one day when my Dad and I were picking grapes.
I'm not sure how we got on the topic, but my Dad said something along the lines of, "You know Emma, always be kind. Because if you always try your best to be kind, if you make a mistake, you're still a good person. And people will recognize that."
My Dad is so wise.
I then proceeded to ask him what prompted him to say that. Then he told me THE TALE:
In order to get a Master's Degree, you have to do some sort of dissertation. Dissertations usually involve projects. So my Dad and his fellow Library Science buddies (Side note: Can you imagine the meetings?!?! Everyone in their Coke bottle glasses.... poring over books.... Anyway, back to the story), got together and decided that their project would be the most groundbreaking thing anyone has ever researched:
What is the Most Important Thing In Making Patrons Satisfied With Library Loans?
*shivers*
Let me expound on that a little bit. Brigham Young University (BYU, which is where my Dad got his degree from), has a very prestigious library, and it is most famous for many religious texts and items that people of many different faiths are interested in. This isn't as simple as getting a library card and checking a book out, it involves dealing with some pretty important people and making sure they are happy and satisfied.
My Dad's team would survey some of the people after they had gone through all the steps required to obtain something from the library. They would ask them the key question: Were You Satisfied With Your Experience?
They used many ways to measure satisfaction, such as:
-Speed of the process
-Efficiency of the process
-Accuracy of order
-Operator's knowledge of items
-Professional mannerisms
-And many others.
As they surveyed these prestigious people, they could find only one area in which there was a direct correlation between whether the patron was satisfied or unsatisfied.
Want to know what it was?
FRIENDLINESS OF THE OPERATOR.
That's it. That's all.
Not "were they fast?" or "did they know what they were talking about?" but "were they friendly?" or "were they kind?"
What?
Their study showed that it didn't matter if the operator made mistakes, or if they were slow, but as long as they were kind, a patron was satisfied. It didn't matter if they got the order perfect and fast, if they weren't kind and personable, it was only an average experience.
My friends, there is so much unkindness in the world today. It is perceived that if we disagree, we must hate each other. People aren't taking the time to help people pick up their dropped groceries.
If it's alright, I'd like to share a few instances where people have been kind to me.
Kindness is when your next door neighbors make you an amazing birthday cake and bring it to you at 10 o'clock at night, when you think the celebrations are over.
Kindness is when a teenage boy you don't even know smiles at you and says, "Hey, I like your glasses."
Kindness is when the busiest person you know makes time for you and takes you for a drive at night.
Kindness is when a woman brings you a meal and looks you straight in the eyes and tells you, "You were on my mind," on a day when you were feeling suicidal.
Kindness is when your coworker says "love you," to everyone before they leave for the day.
Kindness is when someone passes you the frisbee, even though you can't throw it back very well.
In short, I wouldn't be here without kind people.
One more example of kindness?
Kindness is when a man calls another man a friend, even when that man just betrayed him to be killed. Kindness is when that man laid down his life for us. For me.
Please, my friends. Be a little kinder today.
