Introduction
Kindness is a core belief of a person, expressed in words and deeds. That includes responsiveness and the desire to do good and help. If people consider themselves kind, they will always try to help others and lend a hand in any life situation. They will never be indifferent to a person who needs their assistance.
At the same time, many people mistakenly think that kindness requires a lot of effort, while this belief helps make the world a better place and people happier. Therefore, kindness and helping others should be people’s core beliefs, as they require little effort yet lead to outstanding global achievements.
Importance of Kindness in the Modern World
Unfortunately, more and more people are indifferent to other people’s problems. Everyone is trying to keep up with the frantic pace of life; as a result, fundamental concepts such as kindness and grace fade into the background. However, it is these beliefs in people that make them happier. I was deeply moved by the story of Eve Britch, who, having lost everything, moved to the countryside in West Virginia (Birch). There, she met people who took on others’ problems and ready to show kindness to a stranger.
When faced with difficult life circumstances, people often do not expect help but try to solve their situation themselves. That partly happens because society is becoming less and less kind to one another, and a basic concept such as mutual assistance is losing relevance. However, in Eve’s case, things happened differently. Her new neighbors, upon seeing a person in need, “dropped off blankets, candles, tools, and canned deer meat, and they began sticking around to chat” (Birch para. 6).
Being a good neighbor is one of the simplest acts of kindness. People see their neighbors daily but rarely wonder if a person needs something. At the same time, the simplest manifestations of attention to others, such as wishing someone good morning or holding the elevator, can brighten even the worst day.
The most important thing about kindness is that it comes back. Small acts of humanity often lead to significant accomplishments, like starting a charitable organization or joining a global volunteer movement. Eve, for example, has radically changed her interpretation of the ‘American dream’ and has come to understand the power of neighborliness (Birch). She moved to the city and rented a big enough house to shelter those in difficult situations.
However, while showing kindness, one should never pursue personal gain. Sometimes, people help others to improve their reputation and appear better. Moreover, large companies often view charitable activities as a profitable PR move.
At first glance, this works because those in need receive help from those who can provide it. However, such kindness is fictitious and is not a person’s true belief. After moving to the city, Eve opened a small remodeling business, the primary task of which was to work for neighbors in need (Birch). Her company doesn’t aim to make big money or become a leader in the field, but its priority is to help.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I am still convinced that people should be kinder to each other, as kindness is one of the ways to solve global issues and improve the world. Society has great potential to become kinder and more attentive to others’ needs. However, it is necessary to educate people to convey that kindness should be a regular part of everyone’s lives.
Moreover, kindness should not be interpreted as self-sacrifice or helping everyone simultaneously. After all, if one person’s words or insignificant actions can improve another human’s life, this is already an outstanding achievement. Kindness is a chain reaction that, starting small, can change the world. Therefore, it is important to be caring and help others because someday, another person will be kind to you.
Work Cited
Birch, Eve. “The art of being a neighbor.” NPR, 2009.