How to Be Nice Without Becoming a Pushover

by Sam on June 5, 2009

I’m a pretty nice person. Modest, too! Seriously though, being nice is something I pride myself on. I like to do things for other people, because seeing them happy makes me happy. I send cards and give presents, I draw attention to the achievements of my loved ones when they’re too shy to do it themselves. I usually have to change the channel if I’m watching something where the main character keeps getting made fun of or embarrassed.  I give compliments often, recognize those who inspire me, say thank you, and make sure the people in my life know that they are important to me. Frequent topics on this blog include friendship, appreciation, kindness, and overcoming obstacles.  I try my best to be open and honest, and I have shared some pretty personal stories because I believe others can learn from my experiences. 

People have told me that I’m too nice sometimes, and they’re probably right. But, let me make one thing clear, I am not a pushover. I don’t see the world with rose-colored glasses, and honestly, I’m not always nice. I do nice things because there is so much going on in our world that isn’t nice. Watching the evening news has become so depressing, and it’s easy to lose faith in humanity. People deserve to have some happiness in their lives, especially when they’re doing great things and making a difference. 

You may be thinking, “Wow, what a sap! People must walk all over her.”  But, you’re wrong. Yes, I admit, I’m probably too nice sometimes. I put a lot into my relationships with people, and it’s rare that my effort is fully reciprocated. I make a big deal of birthdays, but sometimes my own special day passes by with only a few phone calls from friends. I’m there for people, I listen, I give pep talks, and do my best to be supportive when someone is down. Sometimes people do the same for me, sometimes they don’t.  

Here’s the thing, I do all of these things because I want to. I do it without wanting anything in return, and without expecting it. Maybe this is weak or stupid, but I believe in the golden rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. There are too many selfish assholes in the world. And, my niceness is not without limits. There have been people who have totally taken my friendship for granted, and they are not in my life anymore. It’s one thing to never send me a birthday card or thank me for the ones I send you, but it’s quite another to tell lies about me to cover your own butt.

I’m sure there are people who visit my blog once and never come back because they think it’s too hokey, too fluffy, too nice.  That’s okay, I’m not looking to please everybody. What matters most is that this blog represents me, and the person that I am, and that I’m able to bring something to the blogosphere that people get value from reading.  I believe that this blog does represent me, but it’s certainly not all that I am.  If you want to know more, I’m always open to chat. As for bringing value to my readers, I really hope that I am, but I can’t speak for you. So please, speak to me:  

Have I written at least one thing on this blog that spoke to you? Are there things I write about too much? What about things I haven’t written about enough or at all? What makes you keep coming back to this blog, or others for that matter? Is there anything I can do to improve? (Honesty is always welcome and expected, but please be nice (fitting, I know))

I write because I love it, but the reason I write here is so I can reach people like you. Thank you for reading, I truly appreciate it!

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Hi there! So happy to see you here again! Haven't gotten your fill of life's chocolates? Subscribe to my RSS feed, and check out the Contact page to see where you can find me around the Web! Thanks for reading!

  • NiceTurtle.com is all about being nice to EVERYONE. Join the "Nice Movement"
  • NiceTurtle.com is all about being nice to EVERYONE. Join the "Nice Movement"
  • NiceTurtle.com is all about being nice to EVERYONE. Join the "Nice Movement"
  • NiceTurtle.com is all about being nice to EVERYONE. Join the "Nice Movement"
  • NiceTurtle.com is all about being nice to EVERYONE. Join the "Nice Movement"
  • NiceTurtle.com is all about being nice to EVERYONE. Join the "Nice Movement"
  • I totally get you. Thanks for coming out about being nice :) Do you ever think it's difficult to be a nice blogger? Not everyone on the Internet is nice because they are masked in cyberworld.
  • Ellie, that's a very interesting question. I don't think it's difficult being a nice blogger, but sometimes I worry that my blog isn't insightful enough. Like I said in the post, I'm sure there are people who find my blog too hokey with all the appreciation and stories of friendship etc. But, as the comments on this post have shown me, I have a lot of support out there, and I am reaching people, so that makes it a lot easier. Thanks for stopping by!
  • Ellie, that's a very interesting question. I don't think it's difficult being a nice blogger, but sometimes I worry that my blog isn't insightful enough. Like I said in the post, I'm sure there are people who find my blog too hokey with all the appreciation and stories of friendship etc. But, as the comments on this post have shown me, I have a lot of support out there, and I am reaching people, so that makes it a lot easier. Thanks for stopping by!
  • Thank you! I'm glad this post inspired you, and I really appreciate your comments. "Be thankful for what you have and always try to help others," great advice!
  • I totally get you. Thanks for coming out about being nice :) Do you ever think it's difficult to be a nice blogger? Not everyone on the Internet is nice because they are masked in cyberworld.
  • thankyou
    hey there

    thank you for writing a great blog. I hope to look at this in years to come when live feels
    like a hard time and feels its never going to end. I will also try to help others and do
    what makes myself happy in return hopefully ill make others happy to. Weather it be
    having faith in myself, peoples choices and religion, my family, using money for good things
    such as charity that mean something to yourself and hope to get out
    there more a make good new friends - i guess like everyone i have learn the hard way - be thankful
    for what you have and always try to help others. Thanks to you I will continue to write my own
    blogs and new ways on how life can change. I hope to meet more true friends and people like yourself
    in the rest of my life. Take care who ever you are.
  • Thank you! I'm glad this post inspired you, and I really appreciate your comments. "Be thankful for what you have and always try to help others," great advice!
  • thankyou
    hey there

    thank you for writing a great blog. I hope to look at this in years to come when live feels
    like a hard time and feels its never going to end. I will also try to help others and do
    what makes myself happy in return hopefully ill make others happy to. Weather it be
    having faith in myself, peoples choices and religion, my family, using money for good things
    such as charity that mean something to yourself and hope to get out
    there more a make good new friends - i guess like everyone i have learn the hard way - be thankful
    for what you have and always try to help others. Thanks to you I will continue to write my own
    blogs and new ways on how life can change. I hope to meet more true friends and people like yourself
    in the rest of my life. Take care who ever you are.
  • Elisa, thanks so much! I'm so glad my posts speak to you. I keep forgetting that you're a fellow New England fan! We'll definitely have to chat about that someday soon.

    I too feel sad when I blow people off, whether it is intentional or unintentional. I don't think this makes us selfish though. Sure, bringing others joy makes us happy too, but that's just an added benefit. You're right, even if that is selfish, the world would be a better place if there was more of that to go around :) Thanks for stopping by!
  • Yes, I most definitely come here because lots of your stuff speaks to me. Heck, I even come back here to find links for my own blog posts. Your stuff is great, and I have the most appreciation for any New England Sports fan. :)

    I think another thing, as one nice girl to another, is the fact that being nice makes you feel...well...nice! I too enjoy the smiles, the thank yous, the nods from doing nice things for other people. It makes me instead sad to blow people off, to think I've let someone down, and most importantly to feel like I've let myself down. I'll be the first to say, maybe it's selfish. Maybe I'm just nice because I feel downright poo-ey when I'm not. If that's being selfish, though, I wish we had a lot more of THAT kind of selfish in the world!
  • Elisa, thanks so much! I'm so glad my posts speak to you. I keep forgetting that you're a fellow New England fan! We'll definitely have to chat about that someday soon.

    I too feel sad when I blow people off, whether it is intentional or unintentional. I don't think this makes us selfish though. Sure, bringing others joy makes us happy too, but that's just an added benefit. You're right, even if that is selfish, the world would be a better place if there was more of that to go around :) Thanks for stopping by!
  • Yes, I most definitely come here because lots of your stuff speaks to me. Heck, I even come back here to find links for my own blog posts. Your stuff is great, and I have the most appreciation for any New England Sports fan. :)

    I think another thing, as one nice girl to another, is the fact that being nice makes you feel...well...nice! I too enjoy the smiles, the thank yous, the nods from doing nice things for other people. It makes me instead sad to blow people off, to think I've let someone down, and most importantly to feel like I've let myself down. I'll be the first to say, maybe it's selfish. Maybe I'm just nice because I feel downright poo-ey when I'm not. If that's being selfish, though, I wish we had a lot more of THAT kind of selfish in the world!
  • Refreshing! I'm linking at TransparentVoices.com for others to ponder.
  • Wow, thank you!
  • Wow, thank you!
  • LaTosha: thanks for the vote of confidence, I really appreciate it!
  • Refreshing! I'm linking at TransparentVoices.com for others to ponder.
  • Sam,

    Keep doing what you are doing! I may not always comment, but I love your blog. You always have good quality content because your genuine--something that is extremely rare these days.
  • LaTosha: thanks for the vote of confidence, I really appreciate it!
  • I am what I am and that's all that I am. Sam - you are you - you're nice, considerate, appreciative of others, and quick to let people know that they're valued and respected. It's not a flaw, it's a good thing. More of us should take your example to heart and show those people around us that they matter, that they're special, and that they are important to us. In blogging terms, I try to do this every day - I deeply value the opinions and feedback of others. If someone takes the time to read an entire blog post and share their thoughts, that means something to me, I'm grateful, and I want them to know that.

    People ask me where my success over the past few months has come from. It's a simple formula. I write about relevant topics (by doing research), I try to be interesting and conversational in my writing style, but most importantly, I value my readers, I appreciate my audience, I reply to (almost) every comment that goes through, but I go beyond that, I usually follow up and encourage the ongoing flow of conversation - and in doing so, keep people invested into a topic for longer than the initial pass through. Sometimes it's successful, sometimes it is not, but it is what it is, and it's what differentiates me from a lot of others.

    Don't apologize for being nice - being too nice is a good thing as long as you don't ALLOW people to walk all over you and take advantage of you. Your blog is refreshing, it's different, you maintain a level of transparency and personality that its outstanding. Keep it up - and don't doubt yourself (too much).
  • Matt: Wow...thank you, I'm flattered! This sounds corny, but I really look up to you as a blogger. I hope that someday people will feel as positively about my blog as they do about yours (Mr. #1 GenY!). One of the things that drew me to your blog in the first place was that you consistently write interesting content that generates great discussions. Like you, I try and reach out to everyone who takes the time to read my blog. I also respond to (almost) every comment, and I try to check out the blogs of new people when they comment for the first time.

    As far as being too nice, I don't apologize for it. As I said in the post, I pride myself on being nice and doing things for other people. I know how to toe the line so that I don't become a pushover. I will never willingly allow anyone to walk all over me, and if anyone does, I won't just let it slide. You say that my blog has "personality," and I'm glad you feel that way.

    Thank you for your comments, and since this post is essentially about how I'm proud to be a big mushball, I also want to say: thank you for being a great friend :)
  • Sam,

    Keep doing what you are doing! I may not always comment, but I love your blog. You always have good quality content because your genuine--something that is extremely rare these days.
  • Matt: Wow...thank you, I'm flattered! This sounds corny, but I really look up to you as a blogger. I hope that someday people will feel as positively about my blog as they do about yours (Mr. #1 GenY!). One of the things that drew me to your blog in the first place was that you consistently write interesting content that generates great discussions. Like you, I try and reach out to everyone who takes the time to read my blog. I also respond to (almost) every comment, and I try to check out the blogs of new people when they comment for the first time.

    As far as being too nice, I don't apologize for it. As I said in the post, I pride myself on being nice and doing things for other people. I know how to toe the line so that I don't become a pushover. I will never willingly allow anyone to walk all over me, and if anyone does, I won't just let it slide. You say that my blog has "personality," and I'm glad you feel that way.

    Thank you for your comments, and since this post is essentially about how I'm proud to be a big mushball, I also want to say: thank you for being a great friend :)
  • Naomi, I have to tell you that this comment made my day, thank you so much! I'm so glad that you enjoy my writing and find it inspiring. I must be doing something right :)

    Great insight about niceness-you're right that our true friends won't take advantage of us, and will always appreciate what we do, even if they're not always so great at showing it. I'm happy to hear that I've reminded you to tell your friends that you value them, I'd say they're lucky to have you!
  • I am what I am and that's all that I am. Sam - you are you - you're nice, considerate, appreciative of others, and quick to let people know that they're valued and respected. It's not a flaw, it's a good thing. More of us should take your example to heart and show those people around us that they matter, that they're special, and that they are important to us. In blogging terms, I try to do this every day - I deeply value the opinions and feedback of others. If someone takes the time to read an entire blog post and share their thoughts, that means something to me, I'm grateful, and I want them to know that.

    People ask me where my success over the past few months has come from. It's a simple formula. I write about relevant topics (by doing research), I try to be interesting and conversational in my writing style, but most importantly, I value my readers, I appreciate my audience, I reply to (almost) every comment that goes through, but I go beyond that, I usually follow up and encourage the ongoing flow of conversation - and in doing so, keep people invested into a topic for longer than the initial pass through. Sometimes it's successful, sometimes it is not, but it is what it is, and it's what differentiates me from a lot of others.

    Don't apologize for being nice - being too nice is a good thing as long as you don't ALLOW people to walk all over you and take advantage of you. Your blog is refreshing, it's different, you maintain a level of transparency and personality that its outstanding. Keep it up - and don't doubt yourself (too much).
  • Sam, I love reading your thoughts. So many blogs out there (and I include my own in this!) are about people's lives and day to day stuff - yours is often about something a bit more abstract that I can relate to - your writing is fantastic, and very often inspiring!
    On the subject of niceness - like you I've often been labelled a pushover. I like to think I'm pretty nice and I'm definitely quite laid back - and often people think they can take advantage of that. True friends though will always appreciate you and won't take advantage. Which brings me to one of my favourite of your topics - friendship. You're very insightful and have on a couple of occasions reminded me not just to value my friends but to let them know I do. Thanks!
  • Naomi, I have to tell you that this comment made my day, thank you so much! I'm so glad that you enjoy my writing and find it inspiring. I must be doing something right :)

    Great insight about niceness-you're right that our true friends won't take advantage of us, and will always appreciate what we do, even if they're not always so great at showing it. I'm happy to hear that I've reminded you to tell your friends that you value them, I'd say they're lucky to have you!
  • Sam, I love reading your thoughts. So many blogs out there (and I include my own in this!) are about people's lives and day to day stuff - yours is often about something a bit more abstract that I can relate to - your writing is fantastic, and very often inspiring!
    On the subject of niceness - like you I've often been labelled a pushover. I like to think I'm pretty nice and I'm definitely quite laid back - and often people think they can take advantage of that. True friends though will always appreciate you and won't take advantage. Which brings me to one of my favourite of your topics - friendship. You're very insightful and have on a couple of occasions reminded me not just to value my friends but to let them know I do. Thanks!
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