Why ya gotta be so mean?

This is something I feel very strongly about. I believe that it is never okay to have a bad attitude. Now, I am not saying that it’s not okay to be in a bad mood, or that it’s not okay to have a bad day, or be sad, or angry about something that has happened to you. Life sucks sometimes. I know that. I have had my share of pretty sucky days. But, no matter what I am feeling on the inside, I try my very best to not act like a total jerk to everyone around me. Especially, when I am not even upset or mad with those people. And ESPECIALLY to a complete stranger.

At my job, I help people. I am providing a service to those customers and I am doing my very best to do whatever they need. Actually, in my entire working life I have worked in customer service type jobs. And you know what I've learned from working with people? That some people are just plain mean. I don't take their bad attitude personally, because I know that when it boils down to it, these people aren't angry with me. I'm sure that they have things in their lives that have made them who they are. And I am not saying that these people are not good people. I'm sure they are. I am simply saying that I have interacted with some mean people and it just makes me so sad for them. Maybe they have not experienced any positive energy in their lives. Or maybe they haven't quite learned how to handle their emotions. Or, maybe they like who they are and I am just too sensitive.

Whenever I was involved in some type of 'describe me' activity, everyone who ever described me always said I was nice. I used to get so annoyed hearing that, because it was like the only quality that anyone could come up with for me. I am ashamed to say that I actually used to see it as kind of an insult. Like, you can't see any of my other amazing qualities that I have? Gee, thanks a lot. (sarcasm). I have my bad days. And I am not perfect and I get into moods. And yet, being nice is still the quality that I am remembered for best. I honestly love that when someone thinks of me, they associate me with being nice. If that's all I'm ever remembered for, then that is perfectly fine with me.

Life has not always been easy for me. I'm not complaining, because my life has made me who I am today. Maybe that is why I feel so strongly about bad attitudes. I know struggle, and hopelessness and just plain sadness. But, I also know happiness, and how it feels when you have to deal with someone who has a bad attitude. I try to always remember how it felt when someone was mean to me or when someone didn't smile not once during an interaction with them. I also remember the people who were pleasant, and how it made me feel to interact with someone like that.

Maybe I'm 'too' nice, as I've often been told. But you know what? I'd rather be the girl who was too nice then the girl who was too mean. If being too nice is the worst thing you can say about me, then I guess I'm not so bad.