Get Off Your Butt and Say Something Nice!

Summary

The article encourages readers to actively spread positivity by doing and saying nice things to others, thereby creating a virtuous cycle of kindness and improving the quality of life for everyone.

Abstract

The article "Get Off Your Butt and Say Something Nice!" by Timothy Key emphasizes the importance of proactive kindness in daily life. It suggests that while it's easy to become preoccupied with personal concerns and merely survive, true living comes from engaging positively with those around us. Key argues that instead of waiting for good things to happen, individuals should take the initiative to create positivity in the world. This can be as simple as smiling, complimenting a co-worker, spending quality time with family, or showing appreciation to service workers. The author asserts that by breaking out of self-centered spirals and focusing on uplifting others, we not only contribute to their well-being but also enrich our own lives. He encourages readers to sow seeds of kindness, expecting to reap the same in return, and to start this new spiral of generosity immediately.

Opinions

The author believes that self-pity, self-righteousness, and other self-focused attitudes are detrimental and should be replaced with a focus on others.
Key suggests that personal responsibility and action are key to improving one's life, rather than expecting external circumstances or other people to bring about change.
The article conveys the opinion that everyone, regardless of their situation, can contribute to a better world by performing small acts of kindness.
It is implied that the world does not owe anyone anything, and that individuals must actively participate in creating the positive outcomes they desire.
The author's tone indicates a strong belief in the power of gratitude and compassion to drive meaningful change in society.
There is an underlying assumption that readers are capable of influencing their immediate environment and that such influence should be used for the collective good.

It’s time to create a better spiral

Have you said something nice to someone yet today? Have you done something nice for someone?

Have you smiled?

It’s pretty easy to get caught up in life, and really easy to feel like responsibility and worry allow you to carry on in a mode where you merely are surviving. But that’s not living — at least not living your best life.

Maybe the world owes you something. But I truly doubt it.

Especially not if you are just sitting around with a sneer on your mug waiting for someone to make a path to your door and bring you what you think you deserve.

So, rather than waiting for the good stuff to smack you in the face, go out and make some. No matter how busy you are today, you have time to smile and say something nice to a stranger.

Or compliment your co-worker.

Or spend extra time goofing off with your kid.

Check in on a neighbor.

Tell the grocery checker what a great job they are doing (trust me, they are).

When is the last time you left a little love note for your partner?

Or talked to your mom? (Grandma, Uncle Bob, etc.?)

It is all too easy to get caught up in a spiral of self-pity, self-righteousness, self-loathing, self-admiration, self-destruction, self-denial, or self-anything really.

Break out of that. Start a new spiral.

Start a spiral of others. Give, extend, reach, stretch, advocate, praise, build up, teach, admire and promote: Others.

You know, without me telling you, that you reap what you sow. SO, go do it.

Get off your butt, stop reading stories on Medium and go start a brand-new spiral of others.

I am serious. Go! Get! Hyah!

If you like this, you might like some of my other writing:

Timothy Key spent over 26 years in the fire service as a firefighter/paramedic and various fire chief management roles. He firmly believes that bad managers destroy more than companies, and good managers create a passion that is contagious. Compassion, grace and gratitude drive the world; or at least they should. Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, and join the mail list.

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