The Complicated Math of Kindness (And Why It’s Hard to Admit!)
So, I’ve recently come across the thought that maybe it’s easier to do good deeds for people we don’t personally know than for the ones we do. And even though it’s probably not ideal to say this, I think it might even be better that way. As someone who was born with a heart that’s easily… touched , I often feel the pull to do something good. If a person is nice to me—or even just acts remotely decent—I want to be kind too, sometimes by going the extra mile. In my mind, it’s a sort of soft appreciation I want to give. And I don’t think I expect anything in return… Or, as it turns out, anything tangible . Recently, I realized that even if I don’t expect anything material from someone I’ve gone the extra mile for, I still hope for something in return. I want basic decency. I want common courtesy. I might not be waiting for a gift, but I do want the same respect I gave them in the first place. To my great surprise (and mild disappointment), that doesn’t always happen. And by “not always,” ...
