"You're Too Nice."

"You're too nice." I hear that a lot. Honestly, I don't really know why. I guess people get worried that others are going to use me or manipulate me in ways that I won't like or am not aware of. But it bothers me. It bothers me that culturally, we connote "nice" with "ignorant" or "weak."

I read this today: 25 Things About Life I Wish I Had Known 10 Years Ago, and I rolled my eyes when I got to No. 13:

Be Nice.
I don't mean you should be a pushover. You can be someone that doesn't take shit and be nice about it. Just don't insult people, think you're better than them, or act like an idiot.

Wait––what? When did being nice mean the same thing as being a pushover? I'm pretty sure "nice" means "nice," and "being a pushover" means "being a pushover." Also, "nice" is so much more than not insulting people, not thinking you're better than people, and not acting like an idiot. It's an active word! Let's turn to Merriam-Webster for a definition of "nice."

Nice
: giving pleasure or joy
: good or enjoyable
: attractive or of good quality
: kind, polite, and friendly

Now, I realize that language is descriptive as well as prescriptive, but c'mon, people––let's at least attempt to be precise with terminology.

With the definition of "nice" in mind, I propose that not only are people NOT too nice, they are not nice enough! We could all stand to be more enjoyable to be around. We could all stand to be more kind, polite, and friendly.

Thing I'm thankful for: chocolate