Pay it forward...

Some of you might have seen a thread on Facebook where people who comment on a status:

I am participating in 2013 Creative Pay-It-Forward: The first five people to comment on this status will receive from me, sometime in 2013, a special gift -
perhaps a book, or one of my pictures, or a candle, or music or a small object - a special surprise just for them. There will likely be no warning and it will happen whenever the mood strikes me. The catch? Those five people must make the same offer in their FB status and deliver during 2013....go on, you know you want to :-)

I did this but only a few people commented. Is it because people are too busy? Is it too much trouble?
I wonder if it is a symptom of something deeper?

I see, in general, a deepening of suspicion, a tendency to snarkiness, a sense of unkindness.  
Where there are pressures, those pressures can be manifested in carelessness for the feelings of others.

But why...?

Kindness costs nothing.

Kindness

1. The act of being friendly, generous and considerate.
2. A kind act.

I am a huge fan of kindness. It is free. It helps to make the world a nicer place.

I think that some think that being kind is weak. That being kind is inappropriate in a business or work relationship.This is not true.

Where people are valued, appreciated and treated considerately, they respond positively. They do not, in my experience, take advantage. If the values above are part of any relationship that relationship will be better for them. If a person in authority espouses those same values, they are not being soft, and need not fear lack of respect. Indeed, lack of respect is much more likely to occur where people are not treated well.

I bought a notebook the other day because it had this on the cover:

If they don't respect, appreciate and value you, then they don't deserve you.

This is an important message.
Heed it.