Mid-Life Philosophy--18

If we're not nice, I don't think we're going to make it.

I remember a talk given by a General Authority many, many years ago. His name is Elder Hartman Rector, Jr. and the talk was called "Endure to the End in Charity." I only remember one part of the talk, but considering how long ago it was, that's pretty good. He said, "If we're not nice, I don't think we're going to make it."

(This line has been in my head for twenty years. I just searched for it on lds.org and I found it easy, easy, lemon squeezy. I'm really excited that my memory is that good. For now, anyway. Because I'm just in the middle, not old yet.)

This is another simple life philosophy. I believe it's important to be nice. I'm not always nice, but that's not because I don't think it's important. It's because I'm human.

It's easier to be nice when you know the basics of how someone else feels. I've worked at jobs where I had to call people on the phone--people who didn't want to be called. Because of this, I try to be nice to telemarketers. I've knocked on thousands of doors--of people who didn't want to answer. Because of this, I try to be nice to door-to-door salesmen or proselytizers or UPS delivery guys. I have worked fast food and had my share of mistakes. Because of this, I try to be nice to teenagers (or adults) who are having a bad day in the drive-through. I have worked retail...

I could go on and on. I have had my kids throw tantrums in quiet places. They've run around when they should sit still. I have had them refuse to eat food that was given to us. I can be nice to other moms, and their kids, when they are struggling with these familiar scenarios.

So, I want to be nice to strangers. It's even more important to be nice to people I know. I try to be nice on social media. I try to be nice to my family, my husband, my children. I try to be nice at church. I am naturally non-confrontational, so it may seem like a personality flaw, like I'm not sticking up for myself. That's not true. This is a conscious choice.

Here on this blog, I have a very small readership. Because of the very, very close relationship I share with the two of you who are reading, I know I have not always been nice to you. And I'm sorry. I'm still trying.

If I could be known by just one virtue, I would want it to be that I am nice. Actually, I'd prefer if you use the word kind. It seems classier somehow.