Day #7: Define "Nice"

With so much talk about being a nice person, I realized today that I never actually sat down and thought about what I consider a nice person to be.

I'm not talking about what I perceive other people's perceptions of a nice person are--because a) that's subjective, b) it's my perception of the the perception of others which is both b.1) confusing to follow and b.2) probably wrong, and c) where was I going with this?

So I decided to define what I think a "nice" person is, and you're welcome to contribute your own ideas as well.

Top Ten Ways You Know Someone is "Nice"

1) They pick up the phone at 3am to make sure you're okay when you call them.

2) They show up. That's it--they show up. They're there. They're present.

3) They're able to tell you that you're wrong without making you feel bad about being wrong. Then they tell you how to make it right.

4) They laugh more than they yell.

5) They look at you when you're talking to them.

6) They smile when they see you.

7) They're inclusive.

8) They don't tally up how many favors you owe them.

9) They offer to help without being asked.

10) Stolen from one of my own monologues--"They put 'You're crazy' and 'I love you' right next to each other."

So basically, if I can be these things, I'll have achieved my goal of being "nice."

Okay, let me hear your criteria.