Agreed,and sometimes it the stranger you least expect who will make the effort.

Have to add something sort of funny...A while back mr Hubby was growling at me- literally coz he can't speak. And i said why are you being rude etc etc.i'm trying to help you. He typed on his IPAD- you told me to be nice and kind to the Carers..i'm tired now. !!!! Edited 12-Aug-22 20:15pm

Just to bring up a point to ponder. Kindness is not the same thing as being nice. Kindness is a Christlike quality that has much more depth than just being "nice".

A smiling, friendly face always brightens my day.

As often as possible.

I wonder what Laura would do if she's abused? Would she accept it or stand up for herself? There is a fine line and if you become a door mat to too much niceness then you run the risk of becoming a victim. I don't think most would accept that treatment.

You should treat everyone as you want to be treated. To be kind doesn't cost you anything

absolutely laura, give everyone your best, treat as you would be treated, and go home happy and satisfied, is the only way to live in my books, try watching the kindness diaries on Netflix I think its about a guy who travels around the world for free and helps quite a few people along the way is an amazing showEdited 11-Aug-22 21:24pm

Yes be kind to everyone ,it's not hard ,

I think some people are lonely and they become too personal with people. I don't believe in telling people your personal details if you don't know them well. You never know if something bad happens to you as a result. I hate it when your waiting to be served and a customer is standing there, just holding up others, and they are talking about their personal life's for everyone else to hear. I find that off-putting and maybe some of those serving you find it a bit annoying too I don't think that is polite behaviour.Edited 11-Aug-22 21:11pm

I used to work in customer service selling and being a good sales rep was a gift some people don’t have ! I also worked for Human Resources and a leading telco company not mentioning names ! After the telco job I went back to driving forklifts because they don’t talk ! Some customers are just shit peoples ! Don’t take your poor behaviour out on the person who’s trying to fix your problems !

LOVE KIND PEOPLE. THEY'RE SPECIAL.

Being kind costs nothing, neither does being polite. I love to shop local, I know everyone's name and I get great service. I have no need to give my coffee order because they see me and say "the usual", the girls in the chemist will let me know something I buy will be on special. I stuck a note underneath a shop door while in lockdown asking them to "keep" an item for me and the next thing I knew it had been delivered to my home. A few years ago I required surgery and to my husbands horror some of the local shops rang to ask if I was unwell because they hadn't seen me. He said I was obviously spending too much in their shops. I'll give them limes or lemons when I have them because these people are part of my community but it does upset me when people sell up and the new locals don't want to say as much as "morning". Younger people don't seem to want to be polite, friendly or kind. I firmly believe what goes around comes around.

Absolutely agree 100% with you Laura. It costs us nothing to be kind to another person and as you said it can make a difference in someone's day.

Last year ,while being served,a group of 3 males came in to the shop...and one pushed his way ahead of me when I was near the counter, I said something to him, and he glared at me, and mouthed off obscenitys, and one of his other mates did too. I stood my ground, and said to the mouthiest one, you look like your on drugs or something, and you should not push ahead of people. Sometimes you need to stand up to idiots and not let others push you around. You can't be nice to everyone because there are people who are not worth the time of day.

Couldn't agree more...

I am so grateful to my husband's carers- and we laugh and joke while they are helping him. I spend my day saying thankyou to all of them for their awesome work and patience.. When i get home i am knackered though..esp when little miss doggy has decided to leave a wee toilet gift in the lounge.

I'm usually polite when I get served, but some other services like banks and public servants, well I don't have much time for some of them due to bad experiences in the past . Not all, but some just are bullies.

To do a customer service job, you need to be tolerant and be able to negotiate and deal with difficult people. I've found middle age women are the worst and are less tolerant. Impatient and some are rude. Surprisingly I found people under 30 seem more easy going, but not always as competent at their job, but still many seem polite.

She's a bit confused. It's not about being kind..as that is friendliness. Not everyone has the time or inclination to chat about their self or how their day is going. And that is being a bit too personal for some. It's being a bit tolerant that matters, as that is just being polite without the need to be too personal. If strangers intrude too much into people's life then that can be off Puting for some people. You have to draw a fine line as some people are not always looking for a conversation, but just about everyone appreciates someone being polite. There's a big difference. Not be too personal but be fair.

We need to do it more

Kindness is good for you and good for the recipient

It's not hard to show some kindness to others but sadly some people just don't know how or can be bothered..I am kind and caring to the best of my abilities and I would never have it any other way.

I couldn't agree more

Kindness is very important for good human relations

Treat others the way you would like to be treated yourself!

I agree wholly heartedly I really like seeing a nice smile a hello and goodbye when shopping

A very nice sentiment .I think politeness & kindness go a long way

totally agree

I've had rewarding smiles from staff that have made my day and others you have to pursue to get them to respond to you. Mind it has to be both ways, the customer has also to have a heart for the sometimes shattered look you get from youngsters who never thought work would be this awful!

yes number one module of life. Be kind to one another. The Bible says , someone slaps you on the chick, turn the other side, and tell him/her to slap the other side too

i am with you through and through. it does not cost money to be kind but goes further than what money can never buy.

Sure I agree but for some reason some people forget this, A smile is still free.. It has even helped me at times when people are kind to me for no reason. I hope that can return the favor. Have a great day

I fully agree but unfortunately many of the customers do not think that way they believe they have a perfect right to be idiots and you are there to serve them regardless of haw nasty they are to anyone.

Totally agree...I hope that customers are kind to you

I agree and remember, Thanks cost nothing….lol

I agree. But we're all too agro

I no my bank use to acknoledge me and ask what they could help you with through the drive-in and it made me feel good. Well the bank sold out to another bank and the employees no longer greet you or acknowledge you and I miss that. Maybe this new bank doesn't want the employees to do that but i miss it after 25 years of banking there. I like making people feel good and saying hello might make a difference in someone's day.

I believe in being kind to other people as you never know what others are going thru you may be the last person they have contract with who is kind and it may change their outlook on life

Kindness is more valuable than wealth

Good on you Laura. I cannot deal with rude and selfish people without being affected so I admire you.

It is really hard to be kind

Just being kind to someone. A little act of kindness can make a person's day.

I remember being in the city once & an old lady was crossing the road, whilst everyone else rushed past her as the lights were about to change, this woman in front of me slowed down & helped her across the road & then took time to see if she was ok & had a chat, the face looked familiar, it was Ita Buttrose.

I love this quote from Dolly Parton: “If you see someone without a smile today, give 'em yours.” It costs nothing to be kind and it can change someone's day.

Always be kind.

i agree always be kind

Keep on smiling.

A cheerful hello to all is not hard to do and may give someone a boost that you don't know about. Respect and a smile go a long way.

We are one.

Everyone needs a smile and it is one thing that is in unlimited supply and easy to do and it feels good....Just smile at everyone...

I am kind to people I met and I smile with them, if they're sad I smile and I hope that cheers them up. Life is hard enough with out a little kindness. Some thing I think is lacking a lot with today's society.

Kindness and helping others is always good. Maybe more people should look up to and keep Olivia Newton-John's way of life continuing.

If you're talking to someone....put the dam phone down, and make eye contact, call me old school, but come on!!, That cafe worker or supermarket person etc isn't some mindless drone and deserves 90 seconds of attention!.

I believe that we should be kind to others. It doesn't cost the earth to make someone else's day by being kind. They may even appreciate your kindness.

Kindness travels far whether in word or in deed

I always be nice to the guys at my local Woolworths I always say treat people how you want to be treated

A smile costs nothing so why not use them? What I find Most Annoying are those customers who pay no attention whatsoever to the person serving them - particularly in Supermarkets. These Female & Male louts spend the entire time on their damned mobile phones - discussing, Sandra C, Their Private Lives, they make no attempt to respond to the Check-out operator, when the goods are put through they wave their phones over the eftpos terminal, wait long enough to see if their payment has been accepted (when not they blame the store staff & seem to think they are responsible for their credit/debit card being maxed out) then they simply walk away. No Smile. Most certainly NO "Thank You". It is the Customers who are so often extremely rude and if the indifference we sometime experience (it disappears when we speak with then thank & smile) irks then maybe we should remember those Serving us are Real People and it is as a direct result of OUR Indifference to them which makes them indifferent to us! One of the Most soul-destroying jobs and one of the lowest paid ones, are those unfortunate Women and Men who spend their day swiping goods past a scanner in our Supermarkets. Give them a Smile, Say "Hullo", "Good Morning/Afternoon" and Thank them for their Service - they do appreciate it and will respond in a Friendly way.

When i worked in retail i was always kind- even to the customers who threatened to hurt (and even kill) me. Some customers would only get out of their house/nursing home once a fortnight to get their pension and run a few errands. I made many elderly friends during my time in retail because i actually cared about how their day was going, i was genuine when i asked how they were, if they had seen their family recently, etc Some people say that all teens that can should do some time as cadets in the Army/navy/air force; I think if we made all teens (or anyone capable or working) work in retail for at least a year, it would help to open their eyes. The world can be a beautiful place, but there will always be creeps, rude and/or violent people who walk among us too.

Is being 'kind 'being polite and respectful towards others? Otherwise in New Zealand 'kindness' is overrated! Kindness to me is something backed up by action; otherwise a hollow word.

i I agree with you Laura, I always say if you can't say something nice say nothing. I'm afraid being blunt and so called honest does not appeal to me.

People should just do their job efficiently and it's not like people want to interact with them Not everyone wants a conversation with a checkout person. Doing is more important than saying.

Laura won't be so kind to others when she gets abused. She's probably fairly new and I bet she won't be so nice then! It's easy to talk until something happens to you.

Good on you Laura, it is so nice when customers are thanked and they leave with a smile that helps brighten their day!

Love and congratulate you on your attitude. A lot of the time in retail some show their absolute dislike of their job with a wish to get rid of you as quick as they can. My other pet hate is when they are having a conversation with one of their mates and take no interest whilst serving you. I am certainly not interested in their private life and find it extremely rude.

I always try to connect to the girls on the check out as I was customer facing and there are some miserable people out there and if I can make that girl's job just a little bit more interesting I think we both get something out of the experience, me shopping and hopefully a smile from her

Thats a great attitude. Wish more people were like that.

I agree a smile shines up another person's life. It costs nothing.

I was the same when I worked in retail. I was the door greater at a major shop. I always smiled and told people to have a great day, not in a bored way but always with a smile and nicely. Sometimes someone only needs a smile and a kind word as you don't know what is going on in their lives.

Correct. I try to say a good comment to people I pass in the street. It gets a strange look at first but latter I got big smiles if I see them again. It brightens there day.

Bless You Laura - I am sure you bring brightness in to many lives.

A smile does a lot of good. Kindness is a decision we make to care for others - even strangers. I'ts so sad in today's world that people don't make eye contact. I used to love walking along the beach and everyone I met would smile and say good morning - now I find people look the other way when they approach you. There is a song that comes to mind as I write this "what a wonderful world" sad to say it's no longer wonderful as we hear about wars, domestic violence, etc. etc.

Absolutely. Being kind may be challenging with some people but in most cases guaranteed it's a lot easier to be kind and respectful to a grump than it is to deal with their fury! Much better to keep situations calm and respectable. If you can put a smile on someone's face or make their day then I think that's way better than a negative retaliation and that is a good goal to have.

When someone is awful to me I always respond with kindness 1. I don't want to sink to the level of retaliating with being awful back to them 2. It gives people a chance to calm down and be nice right back at me

Agree with you, kindness doesn't have to cost much, a simple smile can uplift someone, courtesy and respect seem to be on a decline in society so any little thing that can lift someone's spirits is very worthwhile. If you see someone without a smile, give them one of yours.

Being kind to others will be karma, it will come back to you in spades. I had an man come up to me in the supermarket while I was shopping, he said excuse me. I replied Yes. He asked me the strangest question, what size under pants do you wear, i frowned. He continued to say his mother was admitted to hospital and needed to buy some under wear for her and she looked about my size. So I went and helpwd him out. He was so embarrassed, but I felt that I had done a good deed for the day. The rest of my day was a good one.

Kindness costs nothing so be kind and smile. No One knows what people are going through.

I'd rather be kind than be mean to others

being kind doesn't always work. Russia/Ukraine. the meek shall inherit the earth, as the good book says, but it fails to say... but meantime the meek will be stomped all over.Edited 11-Aug-22 07:21am

i am retired, but my goal is to bring a smile to at least 1 stranger a day, you never know the tragedy that folks may be carrying around with them, and just a small thing as a smile can change their day,, ;-)) Edited 11-Aug-22 08:18am

Yeah, some people love the commercial about winning LOTTO!! and quitting the JOB!!!!

Well said. Nice to hear you enjoy your job. So many people in retail seem to hate what they are doing and don't want to be where they are. That comes through in the way they stand, the way they interact with customers and the lack of interest they show in learning more about the products they are working with. Keep being you! Would love to be your customer

Being kind cost nothing helping hand is just what being kind means stopping for a few minutes to see someone who has had hard times or just saying hello it is all part of being king need more kindness in the world less hate it would be a good thing.

I have a goal every day to outkind everybody

I agree with this you should always be kind

I sometimes be kind to people, but I only be kind if they are kind to me.

Just be yourself. Never pander to someone if you don't feel like it. If you don't want to be nice then don't. All those saying otherwise are idiots... because I'm certain they don't practice what they preach. A bit like Laura who wrote this nonsensical and stupid topic. The problem with people like her is that they are living in fantasy land.

Whenever you work, whatever you do - be kind. Great discussion topic, Laura!

Be kind in all areas of your life daily nuff said.

IF we were all kind to one another there would be no wars, there would be no domestic violence or other types of violence and there would be no crimes. Governments would look after us all much better, especially pensioners AND they would fix the ailing health care and aged care system ......LETS ALL BE KIND TO ONE ANOTHER ( that includes politicians being kind too )

I wonder what psychology books poor Laura reads? Look at Donald Trump? He didn't get ahead by being nice all the time, or get to be president for being nice. I'd rather someone who isn't a fraud and just says what they think. Doesn't pretend to be nice, because others might have that expectations of him. He's still very popular with people in America, but he's authentic. Many people are not!

I agree Laura...I worked in the banking industry for 30 odd years. I, also, loved my job...

You need to focus on your own life and it's not anyone else's responsibility to brighten up other people and their day.

Unintelligent people get taken advantage of by being nice. It's shocking how many people will take advantage of someone and their kindness. Your risking trouble for yourself if your not on your guard a bit. It's called survival of the fittest! How many get their lives ruined by being too trustworthy? You might get lucky and meet the right people, but it's like social media, there are morons and more trouble makers around on there, and in real life. Look at all the crime that is occurring. Many who became victims do so because they have been led astray. There are people who seem nice on the surface and even smile, but that can be very misleading. Some of the most charming people can often be the worst kind of person. People do put on false personas. I'm pretty good these days... at picking up on those types. Edited 11-Aug-22 01:03am

I like the idea of being kind to those around us and also to ourselves

I worked at motor vehicle in my county. I always tried to be kind because there is so much red tape with each transaction, I had a hard time remembering all the forms I knew the people on the other side of the counter would not know. It made my job easier because I didn’t have to use all my energy fighting. It was actually the easiest job I ever had, at the end of the day you were done, there was no pile of unfinished work to come back to.

Kindness has nothing to do with money. Kindness is not doing something or appeasing someone just to get one's way (that's "niceness"). People think being kind means being a pushover or not standing one's ground but that's not true. Kindness is in the heart, and something one does without need for recognition.

When I walk my dog I like to say good morning to people when I pass. Sometimes they stop for a chat.

Retail I must admit is one of the most boring jobs on earth. I've known people who do it and I pity that sort of work. I think your probably some 18 or 19 year old who hasn't seen life much.

I chose whom I'm nice to, and not so nice to. I don't pretend as I'm not a false person! You can be Civil to a certain extent, but saying we should all be nice to everyone is beyond belief. Being nice is like when you interact with someone you like. No need to be nice ....to those you don't get on with, but if you have to speak to them or work with them, it's just doing your duty.