I’m a sap, nothing new… that new Oreo commercial with the kids in school makes me tear up. Mostly because it’s cute but also because it reminds me that there are still nice people in the world, that being nice to others gives you a great feeling of connection. In a society where everyone is running around all the time and we’re all in some kind of rat race, it’s always good to stop and think about what others do for us and we take for granted.

I thought about it this morning on my way to work. I usually leave home around 8:05 so I don’t get stuck in the 8:04 train, but it didn’t happen today so I had to wait. Traffic was particularly heavy and the line of cars waiting to cross the rail road was long. I was waiting for a chance to get on the main street when a lady stopped, smiled at me and let me get ahead of her. I had not driven 1 mile when a lady was trying to cross the street in a rush, so I stopped, smiled at her and let her cross. I know it wasn’t a big deal, but the nice gesture from the first lady kinda made me have one of my own. And I always try to do the good deed of the day, or pay it forward… whatever you want to call it.

Mind you, there are times when I really don’t feel like being nice. Especially to people who are either rude or have hurt me a great deal. But there’s a saying in Spanish that goes something like “You’re not less brave because you’re courteous.” This past weekend I had to make use of that statement, but it didn’t feel like an effort. It wasn’t about the other person, it was about the way I want to project myself to others. It doesn’t make me better than anybody else, but I like to try to be nice and avoid being an asshat because, at the end of the day I like to believe I made other people’s life easier somehow.

Being nice is easy, being thoughtful is easy. And it makes the world a better place.