Be the Nice Kid
Perhaps the smiles have been less frequent. Or could it be they are there, but have been hidden by masks? Whatever the reason, the last couple years of Covid-19 have made it difficult for kids to connect. Bryan Skavnak of Minneapolis has been trying to change that with his “Be the Nice Kid” initiative. His work was highlighted in a story in the StarTribune by Gail Rosenblum (10-16-21).
Growing up, Bryan realized there will always be others who were cooler, smarter, better. One thing he could control, however, was how nice he was. A professional golfer and instructor, several years ago he expressed that sentiment to his students on Facebook, and the “Be the Nice Kid” concept took off, with posters hung in numerous schools. He set up a website (bethenicekid.com), and began making appearances—going so far as to travel around the country.
In his talks he would intermingle interesting stories while relating the things that made a person nice. Things such as saying “hi”, being tolerant and patient, giving a compliment, including everyone, saying kind things every day, and not being a sore loser. One such story he relates involves losing to a chicken in tic tac toe. That lesson in humility is remembered by all.
No doubt, a focus on being nice is certainly a worthwhile effort, providing benefits to both the giver and the receiver. Thank you, Bryan, for Living Love Large!