Have you ever held the door open for a stranger and questioned whether the gesture came from a place of deep sincerity or just plain old habit? I'm Mike Rathbun, and I tackle this intriguing question on the Kindness Matters podcast, dissecting the subtle differences between kindness and niceness. Our lively exchange, filled with anecdotes and a whimsical game of "Kind or Nice," will leave you pondering the intentions behind your daily interactions. We're peeling back the layers of what it means to be truly kind, and I assure you, it's a journey that will enlighten as much as it entertains.
In our most recent episode, we don’t just talk the talk; we walk the walk by sharing real-life examples of how authentic kindness can be a game-changer. From the simple joy of complimenting a passerby to the profound impact of encouraging someone to chase their dreams, we explore how small acts of genuine compassion can transform lives. It's stories like these that will equip you with the tools to become a beacon of positivity in your community. So, if you're ready to elevate your understanding of kindness and infuse more of it into the world, join us for a conversation that's as heartwarming as it is thought-provoking.
Did you find this episode uplifting, inspiring or motivating? Would you like to support more content like this? Check out our Support The Show Page here.
Have you ever held the door open for a stranger and questioned whether the gesture came from a place of deep sincerity or just plain old habit? I'm Mike Rathbun, and I tackle this intriguing question on the Kindness Matters podcast, dissecting the subtle differences between kindness and niceness. Our lively exchange, filled with anecdotes and a whimsical game of "Kind or Nice," will leave you pondering the intentions behind your daily interactions. We're peeling back the layers of what it means to be truly kind, and I assure you, it's a journey that will enlighten as much as it entertains.
In our most recent episode, we don’t just talk the talk; we walk the walk by sharing real-life examples of how authentic kindness can be a game-changer. From the simple joy of complimenting a passerby to the profound impact of encouraging someone to chase their dreams, we explore how small acts of genuine compassion can transform lives. It's stories like these that will equip you with the tools to become a beacon of positivity in your community. So, if you're ready to elevate your understanding of kindness and infuse more of it into the world, join us for a conversation that's as heartwarming as it is thought-provoking.
Did you find this episode uplifting, inspiring or motivating? Would you like to support more content like this? Check out our Support The Show Page here.
Speaker 1:
This podcast is part of the Deluxe Edition Network. To find other great shows on the network, head over to deluxeeditionnetworkcom. That's deluxeeditionnetworkcom. Kindness, we see it all around us. We see it when someone pays for someone else's coffee or holds the door open for another person. We see it in the smallest of gestures, like a smile or a kind word. But it's different when we turn on the news or social media. Oftentimes what we hear about what outlets are pushing is the opposite of kind. Welcome to the Kindness Matters podcast. Our goal is to give you a place to relax, to revel in stories of people who have received or given kindness, a place to inspire and motivate each and every one of us to practice kindness every day. Hello and welcome to the Kindness Matters podcast. I am your host, mike Rathbun, and this podcast is a part of the Deluxe Edition Network. With over 28 different shows in the den, you're going to find something you like. For example, if you're a fan of movies and alcohol and kindness, check out this month's podcast of the month, bev's Video, kingdom, barrel-aged Flicks and yours truly, the Kindness Matters podcast. You won't be sorry. That's deluxeeditionnetworkcom Backslash podcast of the month On to today's episode. So a few episodes back.
Speaker 1:
I was talking to my friend, lisa Mott-Wally, and she said something during that show that in hindsight I should have called her on. I should have made a comment on it, but I didn't. And it's kind of been rattling around in my brain ever since. She said, and I'm paraphrasing here being nice is not the same thing as being kind. And that statement has kind of stuck with me because I think a lot of people tend to use the two words interchangeably. Right? Isn't that person nice? Isn't that person kind? It's the same thing, isn't it? But apparently it's not. So what's the difference between being kind and being nice? Aren't they just two peas in the same overly polite pod? Well, let's break it down.
Speaker 1:
Kindness is like a warm hug from a grandma who smells like freshly baked cookies. It's genuine, heartfelt and oftentimes selfless. You know the kind of thing that makes you feel all fuzzy inside. Imagine you're stuck in traffic, you're late for a meeting and someone lets you merge and they give you a smile in a wave. That's kindness. They didn't have to do that. They gained nothing from their actions, but they did it anyway. Bless their considerate little hearts. Niceness, on the other hand, is like a store-bought cupcake with too much frosting. It looks sweet, but underneath it's just fluff. It's polite, sure, but sometimes it's about as deep as a kiddie pool.
Speaker 1:
Picture this You're at a party and your neighbor, karen, compliments your haircut. Now you've heard through the grapevine that Karen actually doesn't like your haircut. You know that she secretly thinks you look like a deranged poodle. That's niceness. Bless her passive-aggressive heart. Okay, so let's play a game. We'll call it kind or nice, and I'll give you scenarios and you decide which one it is.
Speaker 1:
First scenario you're at work and you accidentally spill coffee on your shirt. Ugh, who hasn't been there? Right? Your boss smirks and says well, that's one way to accessorize. Or a coworker hands you a tissue and says no worries, happens to the best of us. Okay, which one of those reactions was kind and which one was nice? Time's up, okay, did you get it right? The coworker was being kind, the boss was being nice. Okay, so we're going to be right back with our discussion after this quick message from Casey and Ray, the hosts of the Deluxe Edition show. Take it away, guys. Hey, this is Casey Shearer and this is Ray. Do you like pop culture? We're pretty sure you do. Then come on over and check us out at deluxeeditionshow. You will not be sorry, or maybe you will be, I don't know. Trust me you won't be Okay.
Speaker 1:
So here's another scenario for you. Picture this You're at the grocery store and you notice that the cashier is having a rough day. You kind of force a grin and say, hey, have a great day. Well, mentally calculating how many items you can get through the express line. Or you smile gently and ask how they're doing and genuinely listen which is kind and which is nice. Times up, that forced grin gave it away. That version of you is being nice. But the version that took the time to ask how the cashier was doing and genuinely listen to their response was the kind version of you.
Speaker 1:
The difference between being kind and being nice oftentimes is intent. If you do something for someone with the expectation of some sort of reward, whether it's monetary or recognition of some sort, you're being nice, not kind. Imagine you see a friend struggling with a heavy box. Nice, you might say, hey, you need a hand. But kind, you dives in like a superhero Biceps bulging box slung over your shoulder before your friend can even blink. See the difference. One is a pat on the back, the other is a full-blown massage. But here's the rub Sometimes the line between being nice and kind gets blurrier than a politician's campaign promises.
Speaker 1:
Take office parties, for example. Nice, you is the life of the party, cracking jokes and making everyone feel included. But kind you, yeah, kind you is the one that's checking on the shy intern in the corner, making sure the vegan co-worker doesn't starve and secretly refilling the punch bowl with sparkling water, because, well, let's be real, nobody needs that much eggnog. And that's the kicker, isn't it? Kindness isn't always sunshine and rainbows. It can be messy, inconvenient and even downright awkward. But it's also where the real magic happens, because when you're not just playing the social game, you're actually connecting with another human being on a deeper level. You're saying I see you, I hear you and I care about what matters to you, and that my friends is worth more than any social media post praising you or monetary reward.
Speaker 1:
Although we tend to say well, aren't kind people nice? And nice people kind? That's not always the case. Sometimes a person is nice but not at all kind. And sometimes a person is kind but doesn't come off as very nice. Why is that? Well, it's because nice is a social mask. People use it to interact with the world.
Speaker 1:
Kindness, on the other hand, is an act of choice to pour positivity into someone else who needs it. That someone may be people, but you could also look at it like animals, a cause or supporting charity. Kindness strives to selflessly improve the world, and we should also mention that selflessly is a commonly misinterpreted word. To be selfless is not to be a martyr. Instead, it's to act in a way that considers others before oneself, and that can be something as simple as donating money to charity, even if you're a bit strapped for cash. It could be helping a senior citizen load their groceries into a car. A selfless act may be picking up a stray kitten that you spot on the side of the road, not coincidentally. All of these things are acts of selfless kindness. They all put the needs of others before your personal needs, but plenty of nice people wouldn't go out of their way for others. They just act nice and polite because that's what society expects of them.
Speaker 1:
That will just about wrap up this week's episode. Friends, thank you for your kindness. Listening to this episode, I hope you found something you can take away and use in your life. We'll be back next week with another episode, but until then, be that person who roots for others, who tells a stranger they look amazing and encourages others to believe in themselves and their dreams. You've been listening to the Kindness Matters podcast and I am your host, mike Ratbunt. Have a fantastic week.