I'm Kind not Nice ... anymore

That person that always thinks of others first, bends over backwards to please, who takes criticism and doesn't comment back, to make everyone else happy but themselves bottling up emotions until its unhealthy to do so, that was me. Recently after going through a sort of painful stress-induced panic episode I stumbled upon an article about the difference between being KIND and NICE. Years of yearbooks from grade school through high school yearbook scribbles from old classmates and friends will prove I was always thought to be a "nice girl" and I was ok with that. Until recently.

Being Kind and Nice are two different things. The Nice person is a weak person, one that aims to please against their will, the one who never says 'No' even if the thing is question inconveniences them. Everyone likes them because that's what the Nice person wants. Niceness derives from the need to be liked and the desire for approval by others. Kindness however has a more pure end in mind. A person who is tough and assertive can be kind. Kind folks reserve the right to not agree to do favors that inconvenience them, they stand up for themselves and make their thoughts heard. The kind person does kind acts because it pleases them to help with no other alternate end. 

This is my proclamation that I aim to be Kind in everything I do. I'm learning to Love myself more and more everyday and I have the right to say 'No', stand up for myself and do Kind things only because I want to.