Kindness is one of the best things we can offer to others. It has the power to make someone’s day better or even change their life. But sometimes, being kind doesn’t work out the way we hope. It can lead to disappointment, hurt, or even a sense of being taken advantage of.
Once, I came across someone who seemed very fragile and in need of help because she didn't have money for bus ticket. Her appearance made me feel sorry for her so I lent her money, believing I was doing the right thing. Later, I found out it was a scam, and they had tricked me. It hurt to realize that my kindness had been used against me.
Another time, a little girl approached me with a keychain and begged me to buy it. She followed me around, and I couldn’t ignore her, so I decided to help. But instead of giving me the keychain after I paid, she ran away with the money. I felt cheated and heartbroken, wondering why she had to deceive me when I just wanted to help. The innocence that I had associated with her utterly shattered.
During my travels to college, especially at bus stands, I’ve faced similar moments. Many people ask for help, sometimes with genuine need, and other times with dishonest intentions. Over time, I’ve realized that not all pleas for help are true, and not all acts of kindness lead to good outcomes.
These experiences have taught me to be more careful. While I still believe in kindness, I now try to think before I act. It’s important to help, but it’s also important to make sure that help is going to the right people.
Even when kindness doesn’t work out, it still matters. It teaches us to be better, to balance our hearts with our minds, and to keep trying to make the world a kinder place.
I have learned to balance empathy with caution, understanding that while kindness is valuable, it is equally important to ensure it reaches the right hands. These failures, though painful, are lessons in themselves, a reminder that kindness is not about the outcome but the intent behind the act.
In a world where manipulation and deception exist alongside genuine need, it is easy to grow cynical. Yet, I hold on to the belief that kindness, even when it fails, leaves an imprint. It shapes us, refines our understanding, and reminds us of our shared humanity.
After all, kindness is not about being perfect—it is about striving to make the world a little better, even in the face of setbacks.
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