“Treat others the way you want to be treated.” This is a phrase that was resonated in all of our minds throughout grade school, from our parents, our teachers, public speakers, guidance counselors and many more. I am a firm believer in this phrase; it is one of the most important concepts I have ever learned.

People will always hurt other people, and there is nothing anyone can ever do to stop that. Each day I witness acts or read articles about people hurting other people. But why? In my mind, I can’t fathom this — why would someone purposely want to hurt another person? I can’t imagine purposely going out and hurting another person, just for the sake of causing them pain.

Everyone is fighting their own battle day after day. Some days are easier than others when it comes to handling this battle. But think about this situation: you wake up late for your first class, you rush to get ready, and you’re still late. When you get to class the professor says turn in your homework assignment, and you realize you forgot to do it. Then as you are walking back to your dorm someone accidentally runs into you knocking you onto the ground, and without thinking you blurt, “Watch where you’re going!” This person looks back at you with sad eyes welling up with tears and sincerely apologizes, little did you know, they just lost their only brother to a tragic car accident.

That simple comment may seem trivial, but to that person, who was just given the worst news they could possibly get, you maybe just made their day a little worse. People underestimate the power of kindness, and how words can mean so much to a person whose battle is a little tougher that day. A simple smile from a stranger or a “Have a good day.” can often make someone feel a little better, and a little less alone.

More than once I have been asked the question “Why are you so nice to someone who is so unkind to you?” My reply is always the same, people make mistakes, this doesn’t deem them to a life of unkind, cold-heartedness from other people, even if their mistakes hurt me. If one day my kindness makes their battle a little easier to fight, then it’s worth it. And maybe, just maybe, they will pass on the kindness to someone else who is struggling through their own battle.

Every day you will meet people who treat others badly because of their own pain. They will hold onto this pain every day, and they will try to inflict this pain on other people in an attempt to make themselves feel better. This is where the concept of “Treat others the way you want to be treated.” comes into play. Imagine this: you have had an ongoing battle with depression for years, you have learned that some days are better than others, and you wake up one day and you can’t seem to want to get out of bed, you can’t seem to find the energy to overcome this sadness, and when you finally do get out of your bed and ready for the day, you are regretting it. But through the sadness you start walking to your first class, and one of your fellow classmates says to you, “Hey you look really nice today.” All of the sudden, the sadness is a little more bearable, and the regret of leaving the comfort of your bed is a little less.

Once again the comment seems so trivial, but I know if I were the one who was having a hard day, it would make me feel a little better. The power of kindness is something that is underestimated each and every day. I have discovered that by treating others with kindness, regardless of if they are kind or not, will undoubtedly make someone’s battle a little easier to fight. And who knows, maybe they will pass it on.