When I was a young girl, I was considered by most as the ugly duckling. I was of course, crushed. Today they call it low self esteem.

I attended an Irish Catholic school for my first 8 years of education. The teachers were Sisters of Mercy and with the exception of one...Sister Ancilla, they were anything but merciful. She, Sister Ancilla changed my thought process.

She saw me in the playground one day weeping unconsolably. When she asked me why the tears, I told her that the other kids had been calling me names and saying I was ugly.


she told me not to believe everything I heard..that God made me, just as He had those nasty children..and God just didn't make mistakes. She told me that I was loved by God and by her.

Still sobbing, I confessed to her that I just wanted to get even with those mean kids. She suggested that I "kill em with kindness". I didn't understand that thinking at all.

She went on to explain that its very difficult to be mean to someone who is nice to you. So...she said, logically, if I was nice to everyone, they would have to be nice to me.

"But how", I asked, "can I be nice to someone who calls me names and makes fun of my clothes?"

"That's not always easy", she said. "And sometimes, though not very often, they will still be mean to you." She continued: "Being nice to others is really just being nice to yourself. It will make you feel good inside and you will know that you have done your best...that's what's important."

She offered a lot more advice, much of which I have forgotten over these long years. However, I tried to follow her words of wisdom...sometimes I can, sometimes I cannot. But, I think she was right. Most people, if given the chance, are nice people. Oh, there's a bad apple now and then but I firmly believe you get what you give.

Hate eats the hater on the inside. And the object of the hate seldom even knows he/she is hated...so, what's the point?

A pat on the back is a wonderful gift to give to someone..tell the waitress what a good job she did...tell the postman how nice it is to get your mail everyday...say hello to the stranger you pass on the street.

Any little, random act of kindness will not go unrewarded..it will always make you feel good inside.

At least it works for me.