Be Nice and Pass it On

Photo via Grey Umbrella  art done by  by http://www.anthonyburrill.com/

I ran across this old  post by Grey Umbrella  as I was catching up on ones I still needed to read.  I  had to share it.   I don’t delete them until I have read the entire post. She posted this photo on her blog with the subject “Be Nice”.  I have been in the holiday spirit and thought hmmm…shouldn’t we all be nice? I have a number of pet peeves, which anyone that knows me can attest too, and one of them is when people are not nice.  I believe in being nice in all aspects of your life from the people who serve you, to your friends and in your occupation.  Being nice also means being authentic.  It means saying thank you when someone did a good job, it means helping someone in need, it means saying, “How are you?” and really meaning it.

Professionally being nice can be a bit more challenging, that’s why I love this poster.  Everyone should have one in their office.  It’s just a friendly reminder that when we’re nice to each other, our customers, and our vendors (in my case), we catch more bees with honey.  No one likes working with “Debbie Downer”.  We all have worked with one, at one time or another. The  New York Times just published this fabulous article about the workplace and how the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.  It’s a must read for all business people, no matter what your profession.

When you are truly nice, you feel better on the inside.  When you smile and say hello and mean it, people feel it. One thing I notice in the city where I live, is if you walk down the sidewalk and your the only two people on the sidewalk…very few people say hello, good morning, good afternoon, etc.  In Boston and where I grew up, it was commonplace.  So I experimented one day and every person I passed on the street (where we were the only ones) I said, “Good Morning!”  Some people smiled, some looked at me like I was crazy, some said, “Good Morning” back and some just kept walking with their grumpy face. For the most part, people were receptive and you could see their energy shift.  It made me smile!

It is the holiday season and being nice is infectious. It’s one of the most wonderful gifts you can give yourself and others.  You’d be surprised what you get in return.