Cubs manager Leo Durocher is attributed for saying, "Nice guys finish last." His 1969 remark on baseball players turned into a stereotype for men who seem to always lose at romance.
Not being a guy, I don't make that connection. To me, it means that you won't get ahead by spending all your effort trying to please others.
It's easy to spot nice people. It's a basic ingredient of your character. You know you have nothing to lose by kind gestures. When bumped on the street, your friendly eyes and slightly upturned mouth is a habitual non-threatening response, an unspoken offer of forgiveness, a gracious display of responsibility even when you are not at fault.
Nice people are aware of the big picture of mankind; they aren't all about themselves, but are ready to help. Nice people chuckle at tasteful jokes. They don't make rude comments or cause stress. They don't join depraved schemes, backstab, blame, lie, or cover up their errors.
The bible has a lot to tell us about being nice. First and foremost, we find the Golden Rule, "
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you;" the guiding principle for most nice people.
What if Jesus said, "No more Mr. Nice Guy!" My religion teaches that we would all be toast! He taught us to "turn the other cheek" to unkindness and cruelty; a practice much easier said than done.
The sad fact is that lurking in every realm are those who want to abuse people who bear the countenance of a nice person. Most likely, you have dealt with at least one of these ruthless predators. I gave up trying to understand them. They exist; that's life. I can't allow shallow and mean treatment by others to make me bitter or vengeful.
There are no guarantees that being nice will get you ahead, but that's not why people are nice. It's just the right way to behave, and it makes it much easier to sleep at night.
Stay sweet,
Gail
Gail Kirkegaard: Business Writer
www.gailkirkegaard.biz
gail@gailkirkegaard.biz
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