We have all heard enough times the benefit of “one kind act” and to always be nice because you never know what someone is going through. Somewhere amidst all the inspirational words that we have heard over and over, I feel as if being nice has become a difficult chore as opposed to an easy habit. When did it get so hard to just do something nice?

Trust me when I say I don’t consider myself a martyr because there was a time when I was cynical about smiling at anyone on the streets. Somewhere between technology and the growing dangers that news channels spend hours going over, I lost trust in the world around me. I isolated myself into a world where I didn’t have to look up from my phone, and the minute I finished reading about a kidnapping story on Facebook, I’d look up to see someone who I would glare at from sheer fear.

Somewhere along the line, the cynicism got to my mind. I’d be scared over everything — walking down the street, hearing someone say hello, or even someone pulling out a cellphone before an airplane took off.

I don’t dispute the fact that bad things happen. I don’t dispute that there are some people who we think are homeless but instead choose to act in harmful manners. But I’m tired of walking around as if everything that moves is a blinking hazard sign. Because for every unpleasant person out there, there is a pleasant person who is just the way they are due to external factors.

So I decided to change my ways and walk around with a constant smile as much as I could. This didn’t mean I didn’t mind my safety. I was still cautious, but I tried to warm up a little bit more. I realized that I was in no position to judge another because, for some reason, I am fortunate to not be in that situation.

Someone who seems “creepy” might say hello to me and I’d still try to give a tight-lipped smile, yet walk away with caution. I gave money to the homeless or at least bought them water or some small food item whenever I could. I know that there are probably many who pose as homeless to take our money, but I do not believe that it is a fair generalization.

Because I imagine if I were that person, where there were so many others out to ruin my chances. I imagine if I had a terrible day and all I wanted to do was merge into the next line but no one was letting me through. I imagine if I had no money left in my debit card and I just needed a little extra change to finish my bus ride.

What I realized was that being nice has become incredibly difficult in this world but it is not impossible. And the effects were incredible, because for every nine people who would ignore me, there was usually one who would smile back.

As far as I can tell, you could call me naïve and stupid. You could tell me that I’m careless and far too optimistic for my own good. Regardless, I’ll still smile at you, help you anytime you need it, and continue to have just a little extra faith in humanity.