The Simple Power of Being Kind

I was walking home around 8 p.m. when I noticed a man (in his 50s) trying to take a selfie in front of the World Trade Center. Without thinking, I stopped and offered to take the photo for him. He was so grateful that I had taken a moment out of my day to help. I asked him if he was visiting New York, and to my surprise, he told me he’d lived here for 20 years.

After I took the photo, we realized we were both headed in the same direction—me to my apartment and him to the subway station. We spent the next 15 minutes walking and getting to know each other.

Let’s call this man Jack. Jack is a musician who teaches drum classes. As he shared his story with me, I could see how passionate he was about his work. He even pulled out his phone to show me videos of his students. Now, if you know me, you know that music isn’t my strong suit, so watching drum videos isn’t something I’d normally do. But in that moment, I was fully present, genuinely interested, and I even learned a thing or two about drums.

The reason I’m sharing this story is simple: it took almost nothing for me to offer to take Jack’s picture, and it took almost nothing to have a 15-minute conversation. But in return, I walked away feeling richer. That brief connection left me with a sense of relief and fulfillment. When we eventually parted ways, Jack had the biggest, most genuine smile on his face. He thanked me over and over again for stopping to take his photo and for listening to his story. 

So, why am I sharing this? Because I want to show how easy it is to make someone’s day better. You never know what’s going on in a person’s life, but you can always choose to be kind. Life is tough, people can be selfish, and it often feels like every interaction is a business transaction. Sometimes, I get so upset when I see cruelty and suffering, but then I remind myself that instead of blaming the world for being unfair, I can choose to make a difference with simple acts of kindness.

It’s about going out into the world and being nice, helping others, smiling at people in the elevator, and not zoning out into your phone (I’m working on that last one too). I’m 24, and yes, life is hard, but I know there are people who have it much harder. Complaining is selfish and unproductive. Instead of complaining, judging, or hating, go outside and connect with people. Not everything in life has to be a business transaction.

Everyone needs to relax and stop comparing themselves to others. It’s easy to get caught up in jealousy, focusing on what others have that you don’t. I used to struggle with that too, and I realized it stemmed from feeling unfulfilled and lacking confidence in myself. It took a lot of time and effort, and many cycles of ups and downs, but I feel much more confident today because I’ve learned to focus on my own journey.

To feel fulfilled, start living for the bigger picture and for things greater than yourself. Get out of your own bubble and realize that there are 7 billion other people in this world. Stop hating, judging, and being mean. You never know what someone else is going through. Just be a human being and treat others well. Stop with the pettiness—it doesn’t help anyone, least of all you.

It’s time to start being more inclusive. Exclusivity is out of style, and nobody likes it. So stop pretending you’re better than others. Focus on your own personal growth, stay in your lane, and let go of the need to measure yourself against others. There’s peace and fulfillment in being true to yourself, and that’s something comparison can never give you.