Being nice encompasses a blend of empathy, kindness, and respect toward others. It means treating people with consideration and warmth, offering support and encouragement, and showing compassion in times of need. A nice person listens actively, values others’ perspectives, and strives to make those around them feel appreciated and understood. Niceness isn’t about grand gestures; it’s reflected in everyday actions like offering a smile, holding a door open, or simply asking how someone is doing. It involves being genuine and honest, without expecting anything in return. In essence, being nice is about fostering positive connections and contributing to a more pleasant, inclusive world.
So here’s a challenge for today: go out and be nice. Of course, this isn’t to say that you don’t always try to be nice to others. This is an effort to be intentional in how we treat others. Sometimes we get so caught up in all we have to do and in our personal worries for the day that we simply don’t think about it. If you aren’t sure where to start, here are some great ways to make someone’s day!
- Let someone out in traffic during rush hour.
- Let the person behind you at the checkout stand go before you, no matter how big their order is.
- Visit a nursing home and spend time with those who have no family.
- Pay for the meal of the person behind you at lunch.
- Leave some sweet treats with inspirational messages on the break-room table at work.
- Volunteer at the local elementary school.
- Give an encouraging smile to a random stranger.
- Let someone go ahead of you in the school pick-up line, and SMILE while doing so!
- Wave at strangers whom you pass on the road.
- Buy an extra box of candy at the movie and offer it to the family next to you.
- Mow your neighbor’s lawn.
- Leave an encouraging note for a coworker or neighbor.
Being nice is pretty easy, yet we tend to overlook the little things that can put us and others in better moods. Take the phrase “Have a nice day” literally and see how great you will feel. You never know—you could be the reason someone’s day gets turned around!
