I have heard the phrase, "You're too nice" directed at myself and other people so many times that I have lost count. I hate this phrase. The condescending emphasis on the word "too" makes it seem that being a nice person is a bad thing. When did we get so out of touch that being a nice person was considered wrong?

We are so individualized that we are not paying attention and helping others around us. Many times I find myself realizing how we are wrapped up in our own little worlds that we don't care about the people around us. Being a nice person isn't difficult. It can be as simple as holding the door open for a person or standing up on public transportation for those who need to sit. Being a nice person means putting another person's needs above your own. I'm not saying that everybody should be nice in every situation, what I am saying is that we need to make more of an effort to reach out to those that are struggling in need of assistance instead of turning away. We all can do better.

Being a nice person shouldn't be thought of as a negative attribute. I remember every winter, my dad even when he is sick, he will get up extremely early and use our snowblower on my neighbors' driveways so that they don't have to shovel. We need more of this. I don't know if we have gotten lazy, ignorant or just plain don't care, but along the way our society has lost its path.

I was very surprised when I came to college to be exposed to so many people. I grew up in a small town that mostly everybody had some kind of connection to each other in some way or another. But at college, I quickly learned that not everybody had the same values that I have. Don't get me wrong, I have met some of the nicest, most generous people here. However, at the same time, I have learned that not everybody is a nice person and it was a really tough wake up call for me. But this makes me want to be a better person because of them.

At the end of the day, I'd rather be too nice than be a person that doesn't take the time and effort to make a difference in another person's life.