"Sois gentil car chaque personne que tu rencontres se bat."

Life can be tough. We all go through our own personal battles, some visible and some hidden deep within. This idea encourages us to be kind to others because you never really know the struggles that others are dealing with. Simple, right? But also profound.

This saying has its roots in various forms of wisdom that have been shared across cultures and generations. It’s a reminder that kindness costs us nothing but can be priceless to someone else. Think of it as a gentle nudge to give others a break, to show compassion because their smile might be hiding pain or worry you can’t see.

Take the story of a man named John. John worked at a demanding job and was often seen as grumpy by his coworkers. What they didn’t know was that John was caring for his wife, who had a terminal illness. Every morning, before coming to work, he’d help her with her medication, get her comfortable, reassure her that she was loved, and only then would he rush to his job. His mind was always on her, worried about what might happen when he wasn’t there. One day, a new colleague, Sarah, joined the team. Instead of brushing off John's gruff demeanor like everyone else, she started small conversations, bringing him coffee, and offering genuine smiles. Over time, John opened up to her, sharing his burdens. Sarah’s kindness didn’t take his problems away, but it made his days a little brighter and gave him a tiny corner of peace in an otherwise chaotic world.

How do we bring this wisdom into our own lives? Start small. It doesn’t have to be grand gestures. Simple acts can make a big difference. Hold the door open for someone. Smile at strangers. Listen more and judge less. Think about a time when you were having a rough day and someone showed you unexpected kindness. How did it make you feel? Channel that feeling into your interactions with others.

Imagine you’re in a grocery store line. The person ahead of you is fumbling with their wallet, clearly flustered and embarrassed. What do you do? Get annoyed at the delay? Or do you offer a reassuring smile, maybe even a kind word? Picture that same person’s relief when they sense your patience and understanding. Those few moments of empathy can turn their day around, making their load just a little lighter.

Let’s take this a step further with a story. Picture a busy city street, bustling with people. A woman, let’s call her Emma, is walking briskly, her face tense. She accidentally bumps into someone and their bags spill everywhere. Instinctively, the person she bumped into, Mark, instead of getting angry, crouches down to help her gather her things. Emma, on the verge of tears, thanks him profusely. They chat briefly, and Mark learns that Emma’s just received some bad news about a family member. His simple act of not adding to her stress, of being kind even when it might have been easier not to be, gave her a sliver of comfort during a really hard time.

So, next time you’re tempted to snap or judge, remember that everyone you meet is fighting a battle you might know nothing about. Your kindness could be the unexpected light in their dark tunnel. Be that light.