BE A NICE PERSON? DARE TO BE DIFFERENT!

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There are over 600 stories and commentaries on this blog that began Nov 24, 2009. It is added to daily.

A few years ago at the Seattle Special Olympics, nine contestants, all physically or mentally disabled, gathered at the starting line for the 100 yard dash.

When the starting gun filled the stadium with its blast, they all began to move forward, not exactly in a dash, but with a relish to run the race to the finish and win.

All, that is, except one boy who stumbled on the asphalt, tumbled over a couple of times and began to cry.
The other eight heard the boy.

They slowed down and looked back.

Then they all turned around and went back.

Every one of them.

One girl with Down’s Syndrome bent down and kissed him and said, “This will make it better.”
All nine linked arms and walked across the finish line together. Everyone in the stadium stood, and the cheering went on for several minutes.

Be nice I cry out to myself and to the world. 

And some hear and some do not…then there are big cities like Miami where I live…and  big cities are different than small towns. 

I should know.  I have lived in both of them. 

There is something about concrete canyons and rush hour traffic (I don’t know why they call it rush hour since most rush hour traffic is hardly moving) that squeezes niceness out of people and leaves an unattractive residue behind.

            You just don’t hear the words “thank you” as often and usually not as many reasons to say “thank you.”  “Please” is buried with the dinosaurs.  Smiles don’t break out across sullen faces. 

There are exceptions, of course, but on a percentage basis small towns win out going away.

            Eventually someone will slow down and let one out into traffic but the battle to beat out the stop lights is just too big a temptation.  Go with the flow and don’t let anyone else in is too often than the selfish mantra.

            Am I momentarily a victim of a “raving syndrome?”  Am I writing this so at least a few more people may stop and think about others before themselves?  Am I a dreamer who believes in the ultimate goodness of people if some would slow down and take the time to find their better selves. 

            A question to carry this a bit further. 

If you do say something nice will the people you compliment be left speechless?  Most likely, because people don’t compliment each other very often in big or small cities.  They would rather wait until a person is dead and then stand around at the cemetery saying what a great person they were.

            Dare to be different.  Dare, this very day, to do nothing more than walk up to a friend and say, “Thank you.”

I’m serious.  Look around right now, and pick out someone you’ve known, loved and appreciated for years and walk up to them and say, “Thank you, Louis; Thank you, Bruce; Thank you, Jean; Thank you, Jane….” “Just for being you.”

Think how wonderful it will be to have such words of love and appreciation echoing all around. And just don’t think about it – lovingly, considerately, out-goingly.  DO IT!

And oh yes…name why…”For being such a good friend”  “For setting such a good example for me to live by” “For the good deeds I know you do all the time”…etc.  be original, creative…it shouldn’t be that hard…for certainly you can think of something to think everyone and anyone for at least once.

When you do it I will say thank you for the richness of these two little words to someone’s life.  Thank you…thank you…thank you…

You think it’s a good idea but you would be too embarrassed.  Too embarrassed to say something nice?  Are you too embarrassed to sometimes say something mean?  To speak out in anger?  Why then, is it so hard to be nice?

Actually, if you can’t speak it…write it.  The Postal Service is still alive and delivering.

Big town or small town, niceness is sunshine and sunshine is light and warmth and wonderful to walk in and with.  So be a sunbeam.  Radiate like a rainbow.  Why not?  Had you rather be a thunder cloud while raining on everyone else’s parade?

I can guarantee, even if you don’t explain why you said something nice, whoever received your praise will feel good all the rest of the day because you made it obvious they have been a good and positive influence in your life.

            I know that rude, crude and forgetful are in, but be nice anyway and if you already are …then be nicer.. 

Be nice, even if you have built up a reputation for being grumpy.  Smile, even when you don’t feel like it.

            Dare to be different. 

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To access info his other book’s and get some great used book prices, go to Amazon.com (books) and type in Neil Wyrick.

 BOUNDARIES UNLIMITED, RUST ON MY SOUL, POOR RICHARD’S ALMANAC, I AM SIXTY PLUS AND NOT HOLDING, THE ABC’S OF PARENTING AND GRANDPARENTING, LETTERS TO AMERICA…

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A quote below from ONE A DAY blog entitled ONCE UPON A TIME

Once Upon A Time There Was A Pulpit Committee…

 

Who turned down Peter because he was in denial.

 

And turned down Thomas because they had doubts about him.

 

And turned down Judas because…

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To access his other book’s; BOUNDARIES UNLIMITED, RUST ON MY SOUL, POOR RICHARD’S ALMANAC, I AM SIXTY PLUS AND NOT HOLDING, THE ABC’S OF PARENTING AND GRANDPARENTING, LETTERS TO AMERICA…go to Amazon.com (books) and type in Neil Wyrick.