At first I was surprised to see niceness among the virtues that Gurumayi is giving us. I'd never thought of niceness as a virtue! And now I see what a powerful virtue it is.

 

My experience is that when I am embracing niceness—showing courtesy and good will, caring for the comfort and well-being of others, welcoming and including others, thanking and acknowledging them—I am also giving these gifts to myself.

 

To me, niceness is taking responsibility for what I create within myself and put out into the world—not as an empty show, but as a way of practicing the precious teaching that Gurumayi gives us to see God in ourselves and others.

 

Niceness is a discipline. It requires patience and self-control. It anchors me in abundance and generosity. No matter what, I always have something to give—niceness.  When I remember to pause before speaking, to add sweetness and poise to the moment,  I create an atmosphere in which all the other virtues can naturally flourish.

 

The moment that I read today's virtue, niceness, a feeling of gratitude rushed through me and I couldn't help but smile. It is not hard to recognize the value of niceness in our lives. When we experience it, it brightens the way we perceive the world around us. Niceness silences chattering thoughts, encouraging us to pause, take a deep breath, and appreciate the moment.

 

Seeing niceness as today's virtue led me to understand the word in a new way. The happiness that is caused by this virtue is not something that we must wait for someone or something to bring to us. Niceness lies within us. Perceiving ourselves, our environment, and our daily lives with the awareness of this virtue brings us to that bright, uplifted feeling in everything we do and with everyone that we encounter.

 

Contemplating this virtue helped me to understand that to recognize, to feel, and to share niceness is another way of reconnecting to the pure love that lies within us all.