You're too nice..

Today at work, I was shelving a book called "Why Men Love Bitches". The book is about being less nice, because nice girls don't get the guy. This author has been unbelievable successful. When I was working at the spa back home, a few girls I worked with mentioned the book and one came to the conclusion that this was her problem, that she was too nice. I told her then that I didn't think there is such a thing, and most people just laughed and continued to talk about how awesome the book is.

The other day, someone told me that they were concerned about me. They meant it in a loving way, and I could see that, so I asked why. They told me that they felt that I was too nice and I didn't know how to stand up for myself. They had seen me yield to others in many different situations, and they essentially called me a doormat.

I'm trying to figure out where we got so lost and confused about what it means to be nice. It's not a bad thing. If only the world were full of more nice people. The last thing we need right now is more mean, ruthless people. Is this what they want from me?

For the record, I am nice. I like being nice. I like yielding to other people. I like letting my friends go ahead of me, and doing dishes for my friends, and making lunch for Jordan when she doesn't have time to make it for herself. I like doing those things, which, I guess, makes me nice. But people who have known me for a long time would tell you that I have no problem standing up for myself. Because of my lack of understanding in the area of forgiveness, it was easy for me to instantly retaliate. The girl I used to be would never let anything offensive walk by untouched. I know how to handle myself and I am certainly not a doormat. Unless I choose to be.

I think more than anything, this whole idea just makes me really sad for the people of the world, and even some of the people of God. Being mean, being hard and tough, and having a hard heart; these things don't protect you from anything. If anything they increase your hardships because if nothing can get in than nothing can get out either.

Weakness and kindness have nothing to do with each other. Maybe false kindness can be a bi product of weakness but that is an entirely different issue. Do not be fooled by the world into thinking that being nice is not good. If only we could recall that people who the world calls successful are far from it. Money can't change anything inside of a person, and so why do we envy their cruel personalities? Mean people aren't happy people. Don't adapt the traits that even they wish didn't belong to them.

I am soft. I let people push me aside from time to time. I silently bless people and I love every second of it. I have no money, but I have something so much more valuable. I have a relationship with the Most High, and I have love in my life. I am nice because I feel my God cheering me on when I am. They are hard because they aren't listening.

Don't close your ears to God and chase the loss of kindness in yourself. But rather turn a deaf ear to the world and listen to the voice of your creator cheering you on to be nice, to be a blessing, to be His.