#WorldKindnessDay...

Well, I'm one of those people who believe that the most genuine #kindness happens when it's out of the spotlight. I do hold doors for people, but I also donate to various charities without feeling the need to let the world know about it unless it's to raise awareness for something I believe is often overlooked. I donate clothes and other used items to the clothes donation bins, but I don't always let people know that it's me behind it all. I may not even want others to know I do good deeds, because I'm concerned that someone may interfere with what I do in some negative way.

So when people label me as rude and disrespectful, it just... well, ironically, it radiates the same aura of disrespect they condemn in me. Because often, most do not bother to take a look at things from my perspective and wonder why I act a certain way. They prefer to label me as someone I may not actually be. No one ever says, "Oh, I'd like to discuss what happened so we can avoid similar misunderstandings in the future." Somehow it's always some derogatory label or self-righteous moral condemnation. And then, instead of willing to fix the problem, they decide that punishing me in the hopes that I'll "figure it out eventually if I'm smart enough" is the better solution. It is not. It doesn't help me learn anything. It makes it harder for me to explain my perspective.

I think part of the real kindness should be to help others understand why what an action they're taking may be potentially wrong, rather than unfairly marginalize those who have a seemingly tough and rude exterior but are actually kind of nice once you get to know them and their inner life. That's all I ever ask of anyone.

For the record I do believe in setting things right and taking responsibility when it is required, so it's not like I'm avoiding the consequences of my actions either. I also don't see myself as a perpetual victim or anything like that, but I can confirm that I have been wronged in the past.