"When I was young, I used to admire intelligent people; as I grow older, I admire kind people."

– Abraham Joshua Heschel

It's easy to think being nice makes you good.

Nice is just a mask. It's the smile you put on to avoid confrontation. The agreement you give because disagreement takes spine. The "let me know if I can do anything" you offer because it sounds good but means nothing. 

Nice costs you nothing. That's what it's worth, too.

Kindness is a different animal entirely.

Kindness is action. Helping that neighbor. Having that hard, but necessary conversation. Jumping in first when someone needs a hand. Kindness costs something. Time. Comfort. Approval. 

Niceness is about you. Your image. Your ease. Your reputation as "the good guy." Kindness is about them. What they actually need, not what makes you feel generous for offering.

Stop performing. Stop saying the right words while doing nothing behind them. The men who changed your life were never the nice ones. They were the kind ones. The ones who showed up, spoke up, and put skin in the game when it would've been easier to smile and nod.

Be kind. Not nice. The world has enough nice guys.