It Doesn't Cost Two Cents to be Nice to Someone!

My brother-in-law-hails from New Orleans-he arrived with a true allegiance to ‘The Saints’, crawfish boils, and King Cake. He also came with an expression that has settled in my soul… “It doesn’t cost two cents to be nice to someone.” On good days he beams with southern charm and a warmth and politeness that seem almost foreign in these parts. Why is it that kindness often appears to be in short supply?

I was walking my Morkie past the library the other day when a young man, I would say about 13 years old, looked at my sweet dog and said, “your dog is very cute.” 

‘Thank you,’ I replied, surprised that he reached out.. And I wondered is kindness innate, is it taught or perhaps is it a bit of both?

One fine day I was in Schiavoni’s IGA on Main Street and a mom and her very young son were at the check-out counter. I would estimate that he was about three or four years old-and while checking out the mom instructed her son, “Now look at the clerk and say, ‘Good Morning, how are you today?’ and the young son did as she asked. And as the clerk finished with their order the mom suggested to her son, “Now look at the clerk and say, ‘Thank you very much, and I hope you have a good day.’” And once again the young son did as she said. This appeared to be an example of modeling good manners, friendliness and courtesy. She was starting at a very young age to teach her son how to regard each person with kindness and respect. Kudos to this young mom

On my early morning walks I try to say good morning to each person I pass-some smile and reply while others look right through me. I imagine some folks aren’t used to reaching out to strangers and others just don’t seem to care and I think to myself, ‘It doesn’t cost two cents to be nice to someone.’ How nice it would be if we could all let our guard down and address each other in passing. 

I read on Facebook an expression that went something like this, “We need to care less about whether our kids are academically gifted and more about whether they sit with the lonely kid in the cafeteria.”  What a wonderful world it would be if that were to become our focus. Perhaps there would be far fewer bullies and college bribery scandals in the world. Is unkindness modeled just as kindness is-in how we speak with and treat each other at home?

We all know how it felt to be the one left-out, we carry the unkind words far longer than the kind ones. I’m not sure why mean words are more buoyant and float to the surface with such ease. Are we teaching our kids to be the kind ones? Are we the kind ones? It seems lately that our patience is wearing thin, that kindness and civility is in short supply.

I imagine that the only way to a loving, peaceful world is through our kindness and that of the next generation, our children and grandchildren-in teaching them what compassion is and what it looks like and sounds like and feels like. To teach the children in our lives to sit with the lonely kids in the cafeteria, invite them to the birthday party, model patience and courtesy while behind the wheel of our cars, by holding the door for the next person in line, reaching out to the elderly, teaching and practicing love.

The beauty of the world exists and it is there for each of us to grasp and hold on to. We are the creators of the climate of our domain in each small action towards goodness. What will the forecast be? I am reminded to try my best and remember my brother-in-law’s words, “It doesn’t cost two cents to be nice to someone!”