Nice Matters – Short Story About Kindness
Andrew always gets what he wants. But what happens when the man who always gets what he wants doesn’t get the promotion he’s been vying for? Find out in this short story about kindness. Read Feel-Good Stories by Jack and Kitty for free every weekday.
Nice Matters – Short Story About Kindness
Andrew paced in his corner office, his footsteps echoing in the silence. The glass-paned walls, which once symbolized his success, now seemed to mock him. They reflected his enraged face staring back. Photos on his desk of him holding trophies and certificates of achievements all felt hollow. Outside, the sun was setting, casting a warm glow over the city. But inside, Andrew’s world was darkening.
“Why Dale? What does he have that I don’t?” Andrew muttered to himself, staring at the email announcing Dale’s promotion – the promotion he was supposed to get.
Andrew was in shock.
Dale, his colleague, was everything Andrew wasn’t. Kind, empathetic, always ready to lend a helping hand. To Andrew, Dale’s niceness was his weakness. Yet, here he was, surpassing Andrew, the man who never believed in kindness.
The next day, Andrew decided to confront Dale. He stormed into Dale’s office, ready to unleash his fury. But he stopped short when he saw Dale helping a junior employee understand a complex report.
“Dale, can we talk?” Andrew’s voice was steady, but his confidence wavered.
“Sure, Andrew. What’s on your mind?” Dale’s voice was gentle, and inviting.
Andrew’s prepared speech fell apart. “How did you trick them into picking you? How did you win them over?
Dale smiled, “It’s not about winning over, Andrew. It’s about working together, supporting each other.”
Andrew scoffed, “Support? Kindness? That’s not how you get ahead!”
Dale’s smile didn’t waver. “Maybe it’s not about getting ahead, Andrew. Maybe it’s about growing together.”
Andrew sneered, “Growing together? That’s quite possibly the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard.” Right then, their talk was cut short. Dale got a call to help with a crisis at the company. He quickly invited Andrew to join him. Andrew decided to keep a close eye on Dale. He wanted to uncover Dale’s secrets.
What he saw surprised him.
As they worked through the crisis, Andrew saw Dale’s approach firsthand. He wasn’t just solving problems; he was empowering others, acknowledging their efforts – genuinely caring. And people responded to that – they worked harder and collaborated better.
The crisis was averted, and the team celebrated. Andrew watched Dale closely. Dale was deflecting praise and highlighting the team’s efforts. For the first time, Andrew felt something stir within him. It was a mix of confusion and something else, something harder to admit.
He felt admiration for Dale, and a desire to be like him.
People seemed drawn to Dale, not because of success or standout qualities. Dale was ordinary in many ways. But people liked him. They wanted to be around him. This was new to Andrew. He had never experienced this, despite his many successes in life.
In the days that followed, Andrew began to change. He started acknowledging his colleagues’ hard work and offering help without being asked. Then, one day, as he walked through the office, he noticed Lisa, a colleague who usually avoided him. She paused and looking at him curiously.
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“Hello, Lisa,” Andrew greeted her, a bit surprised by her attention.
Lisa hesitated, then replied, “Hi, Andrew. You know, I’ve always been a bit scared of you. But lately, you seem different … nicer.”
Andrew felt a slight tinge of happiness at her words. For the first time, he noticed the details about Lisa, like the locket around her neck with a baby footprint on it. “That’s a beautiful locket. Does it have a special meaning?” he asked, genuinely curious.
Lisa, surprised by his interest, touched the locket softly, “Yes, it’s celebrating my baby girl. I hated having to come back to work and leave her with a babysitter.”
Andrew nodded, “That must be hard. I can only imagine.”
Lisa was both shocked and flattered. ‘I’ve seen you in the hallway every day for almost four years,” she said. “And I don’t think you’ve ever asked about me.”
The encounter stayed with Andrew for the rest of the day. For the first time in his memory, he felt a warm, good feeling inside. It was like something he might have felt as a small child, unfamiliar and hard to identify. This feeling touched a deeper part of him than any accomplishment ever had. It lingered for a long time. He smiled and whistled a tune. Something was changing inside him. He didn’t know exactly what it was, but he felt different. Lighter, less stressed than he had been in years.
Andrew realized, perhaps for the first time in his life, that being nice truly mattered.
As they left the office together one evening, Andrew turned to Dale, “You know, I used to think being nice was a weakness. But I was wrong. It’s a strength. Thank you, Dale, for showing me that.”
Dale clapped him on the back, “You’re welcome, Andrew. But you had it in you all along. You just needed to find it.”
As they walked to their cars, Andrew had a realization. He’d focused on the wrong things for most of his life. His trophies and accomplishments felt good, but that feeling was always short-lived. There was always the next promotion or goal. Being number one was a never-ending chase.
Andrew realized he’d discovered a different kind of success. It wasn’t about being number one. It was about being kind. And this kindness brought him happiness no trophy or accolade ever could. Sure, he didn’t get the promotion. But surprisingly, it made Andrew the happiest he had ever been.
Written by Kitty Norton. © 2024 Jack and Kitty Norton. Reprinted by permission of Jack and Kitty Media Group. In order to protect the rights of the copyright holder, no portion of this publication may be reproduced without prior written consent. All rights reserved.
