Humans logo

Push or Pull

A Simple Act of Kindness Can Go a Long Way

By Kali AcePublished 7 years ago 7 min read
Like

You brush shoulders with someone as you pass each other in the street. You have no idea who that person is or where they have been and you cannot possibly know what is going on in their head. They are fighting a battle you know nothing about.

Say instead of brushing shoulders, that person may not be paying complete attention and they accidently run into you. You’re annoyed now. Wasn’t he watching where he was going? Is it that hard to not run into someone? He apologizes in a quiet and frightened voice but you’re having a bad day and now you’re to the point where even the smallest of things are setting you off. You don’t care if you don’t know this person and they seem nice, so you yell at them. You make a scene and tell them they need to watch where they are going. You may even throw in a few insults for good measure just so they know better next time to watch where they are going.

He doesn’t say anything to you. He seems scared and nervous and he scurries off and you walk off shaking your head, muttering about incompetent people. Is it really that hard to watch where you are going?

And then, the next thing you know, you’re watching TV and you see a news broadcast of some tragedy. It’s so horrible when someone takes their own life. The picture of the person who committed this awful deed flashes on the screen and you spit out your water you just took a sip of. It’s that guy you yelled at yesterday!

How awful. You’re heart falls into the pit of your stomach. You remember the awful things you said to him and then the guilt settles in. You had no idea that guy was having such a hard time, for if you had known surely you would have been nicer. But how could you have known? You don’t know him. You didn’t even know his name… How are you supposed to know he was on an edge?

Now you think, maybe if I had just been nicer and more understanding and not let something so minimal get to you then perhaps this wouldn’t have happened. But no, such thoughts as these are traps. It is imperative you don’t fall into the trap or else the guilt will eat you alive.

You feel sorry for the guy that killed himself but you try to push it out of your mind and go on about your day. Your words could not have possibly triggered something like this to have happened. Yes, that guy was probably dealing with a lot and it became too much for him — it had nothing to do with you. You turn off the news and go on about your business but there’s still that nagging feeling in the back of your head that if only you had just been nicer to that guy then this wouldn’t have happened.

Every single person you come across is fighting a battle you know nothing about. I’m fighting a battle; you’re fighting a battle; your co-workers; family members; no one in life is exempt from the pressing matters that life throws at us.

We all deal with things in different ways. For some people, the pressures of life really get to them and they feel like they can’t handle it anymore. People deal with depression and anxiety and all sorts of things because of all different reasons. But if we could just be nice to everyone and not spew words of venom to someone we don’t even know because we’re having a bad day, then we might be able to save a life.

How do you know that your little temper tantrum isn’t the very thing that could push this person off the edge? For all you know, they could already be thinking about killing themselves because “no one likes them” and they think the world will be better off without them — do you really want to be the person who proves their assumptions about themselves true? Or true to them, at least.

There is nothing you can say to people with this line of thinking that they are not already thinking about themselves. And before you ask…no, that does not make it okay. Don’t you want to be the person who pulls them back from the edge? People don’t realize how one simple act of kindness can go a long way. We say phrases like that all the time but do we ever put them into action?

Kindness is free. It cost absolutely nothing to be nice. A little bit of kindness can go a long way.

So next time you go to the grocery store and you’re getting annoyed because the line is going slow and this cashier seems to be new but you wanted to be quick in here — take a deep breath to calm yourself and remember that that person and every single person in the line is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Don’t be the one to push them over the edge.

Next time you go through a drive thru and you’re annoyed because the line is going slow (this is fast food, isn’t it?), just take a breath and remind yourself that you will get your food eventually and not to be in such a rush. Remind yourself to enjoy life; living in the moment and whatever you do, don’t yell at the cashier person or ask for a manager. Be understanding; you have no idea what is going on inside that building. Possibly someone just walked out and quit and they’re short staffed? You don’t know. You have no idea what is going through that worker’s head; possibly their brother just died and they’re still grieving this tragic loss?

Just take a beat…breathe…enjoy the moment. Enjoy life; you only get one. Don’t waste it on venomous anger; don’t waste it tearing everyone around you down simply because you can. Be nice to everyone no matter what battles you are facing or how you are feeling in the moment.

Haven’t you ever been fighting a battle in life and been having a really bad day because of it and then someone you don’t know said something nasty to you and it made the whole day just that much worse.

The next person you pass on the street could be grieving a loss. They could have gotten horrible news like they just lost a job. They could be a single mom working two jobs to support her three kids on her own because her husband left her for a much younger model. You have no idea what the circumstances people are facing are. You have no idea if they battle daily with the enemies that go by the names: anxiety and depression. For all you know, they could very well be thinking about ending everything because it would be “easier.”

Think about it: Do you want to be the one to push them over that edge? Or, do you want to be the one to pull them back and remind them to take it one day at a time and everything is going to be okay? Push or pull? It’s that simple.

We are all human. We are more alike than we are different. We are all fighting battles everyone else knows nothing about. And sometimes all someone needs is to be told it is all going to be okay and they will make it through this storm they are walking through. And as for people you don’t know, all they may need is a simple act of kindness to get them through the rest of the day, and it should be your human duty to do just that.

Do you want to know what the best part is? Kindness is free. You can either be someone who pushes someone over the edge with your toxic words and harsh attitude or you can be someone who pulls them back. Which person do you want to be?

humanity
Like

About the Creator

Reader insights

Be the first to share your insights about this piece.

How does it work?

Add your insights

Comments

There are no comments for this story

Be the first to respond and start the conversation.

Sign in to comment

    Find us on social media

    Miscellaneous links

    • Explore
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
    • Support

    © 2024 Creatd, Inc. All Rights Reserved.