BEING KIND TO OTHERS PAYS DIVIDENDS By Domenick J. Maglio PhD Traditional Realist We are becoming a culture where everyone wants to be accepted for whatever they do. Even if they are not acting kindly to others, they expect others to be kind to them. They seem to have forgotten that what you give out to others you often get back exactly what you gave out. Some people do not understand this truism that how you treat others will come back to you as good or bad. The Golden Rule still applies. However, there are too many who expect others to be especially considerate of them without earning it. In their thinking process, they are special and should be treated with kid gloves. This is not how most people react to other people who are strangers. Many people make a quick assessment from the first impression of a stranger by their initial encounter. If an individual greets a stranger in an appropriate, respectful manner he will generally receive a positive reaction in return. Most people want to make a good impression keeping the conversation general and pleasant. However, there are some who have a chip in their shoulder. Many of them are bitter about some aspect of their lives, a recent death of a loved one, a serious physical ailment, or past serious setback of another personal issue. Instead of putting their problems into the context of their lives, these people blow it out of proportion to the point of outrageous anger. It is better to realize their seemingly momentous crisis will run its course and fade into a past memory. This realization often will help the person become emotionally stronger and mentally wiser. On the other hand, a person may hang onto their obsession and anger without accepting and tolerating it as another difficult but important learning experience. It can ruin the person’s emotional and mental balance and cause unnecessary problems in other aspects of their life. An individual hanging onto anger and pain often becomes intolerable to their loved ones. This intense emotional anger can result in mental instability and even mental illness. Instead of focusing on how another person hurt them, they should place themselves in the position of helping another person in need. By extending their energy and caring to others, the emotionally wounded person feels uplifted rather than passing time feeling angry. Being kind to another leaves a person in a positive mental state. Domenick Maglio, PhD. is a columnist carried by various newspapers and blogs, an author of several books and owner/director of Wider Horizons School, a college prep program. Dr. Maglio is an author of weekly newspaper articles, INVASION WITHIN and the latest book entitled, IN CHARGE PARENTING In a PC World. You can see many of Dr. Maglio’s articles at www.drmaglioblogspot.com.