A bit of Humanity
A bit of Humanity
This past week I had an experience that made me seriously question humanity.
Quick context: I had paid someone a pretty penny to assist me with a task and then asked for feedback. The individual responded in such a vulgar, aggressive, and insulting manner that I felt a horrible surge up my neck – the kind I’ve come to associate with a deep clash of values. (I’ve written before about an encounter with someone who was parking illegally in a disabled spot.)
His reaction left me deeply upset. I sat wondering what could have triggered such hostility. Was there something I wasn’t seeing? After a thorough examination of the situation and a long conversation with my husband, the conclusion was clear: No reasonable human being would have responded the way he did.
I tend to believe that people are inherently good. I like to assume there’s something I’m missing when they don’t act that way. But the reality is that some people simply choose to be cruel and mean.
A second interaction that week restored some of my faith: A young man I’ve seen many times before, always alone, living with both a physical disability and mental challenges. He walked up to our table at a restaurant, greeted us politely, asked if we were locals, and then sat down at his own table.
When we left, we walked past his table. He greeted us again politely and said, “Thank you for being so kind to me”.
What?!
Just saying hello to a stranger counts as kindness? I thought that was basic human decency! Apparently not. This poor man is treated as less than human simply because he is different.
My purpose is to leave every person and every interaction better than I found it. I don’t get it right all the time – probably not even half the time – but I genuinely believe that simply trying makes the world at least one percent better.
I think the world could be so much better if we treated one another with love and kindness, assumed the best in others, and gave more than we receive. In the midst of all the turmoil – wars, xenophobia, extortion, and more – a little kindness can change someone’s entire world.
Be the person who does good with no ulterior motive – even when there’s no ROI, even when no one sees it, and even when it feels uncomfortable. In the words of Ryan Holiday: “We must fight to be different, and then fight to stay that way.”
Just be lekker.
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