You Get What You Give: Why Kindness (and Patience) Matter
- Marlene Le Roux
- Apr 16
- 4 min read
Ever noticed how when you’re having a bad day, the world just seems to pile it on? One thing after another, testing your patience, stretching your limits, and making sure you’re fully locked into “grumpy mode.”
But here’s the question: is the world really that bad — or is it just reflecting the energy you’re putting out?
A simple, everyday moment on the bus reminded me just how true this is. Sometimes, life throws you these little “people lessons” when you least expect them.
The Bus Ride That Shifted My Perspective
Last week, I was on the bus when I noticed a lovely woman and her three daughters. They were on holiday from interstate and clearly unfamiliar with how the local bus system worked. You could see the girls hop on ahead, and their mum stayed back to chat politely with the driver, figuring out the fare and the details — all very calm, very respectful, and without a hint of drama.
But from the back of the bus, an older woman suddenly shouted out, “Can you hurry up? I’ve got an appointment!”
You could feel the whole vibe shift in that moment. The family weren’t holding anyone up, they were simply navigating a new place. They were doing their best. But the woman shouting? She had no patience for anyone’s learning curve.
And the real kicker? Earlier on the same ride, two grown adults had jumped onto the bus without even paying their 50-cent fare. The driver said something — and they just shrugged and kept walking. No one shouted at them. No big scene. Just silence.
Choosing Compassion Over Frustration
Once the mum got her bearings and found seats, I offered her the spot next to me so she could sit close to her daughters. That simple gesture sparked a conversation between us.
It started with the classic “Mum holding the teenager’s phone” scenario — her daughter was low-key freaking out while we joked about scrolling through her texts and messaging boys. The poor teen’s face said it all: pure panic. But we had a laugh, and just like that, two strangers became friendly humans sharing a lighthearted moment.
We ended up chatting about parenting, about how different the world looks now compared to when we were growing up, and about the little things that often reveal someone’s attitude — like seeing a kid the other day with muddy shoes, grass clumps and all, resting them on a bus seat like it was his own living room.
Someone later commented on my story about that moment, saying, “Maybe they were never taught.” And honestly, that stuck with me. Because sometimes it’s true — some people really aren’t taught to care about others or about the spaces they share. But on the other hand, a lot of us figured it out without needing lessons. Respect isn’t something you always learn from rules or lectures; it’s about self-awareness, and often about the kind of people we choose to surround ourselves with.
Your Energy Shapes Your Experience
It hit me that day: the woman who snapped from the back of the bus wasn’t just impatient — she was probably already carrying frustration, and the world just kept handing her more reasons to stay that way. I’ve done it too. We all have. When you expect the worst, you find the worst.
But the opposite is true as well. When you walk through life with kindness and patience, people tend to reflect that back to you. It’s not a perfect formula, but the shift is real.
And when you start noticing the small, good things — someone holding the door, a stranger letting you go first, a child offering their seat — you train your brain to focus on kindness, rather than negativity. It softens you, and life feels just a little lighter.
Kindness Doesn’t Need an Audience
The best part about kindness? It doesn’t have to be grand or showy.
It’s the quiet, thoughtful things:
Giving up your seat without needing a sign to tell you to.
Letting someone merge into traffic without laying on the horn.
Offering patience to someone who’s trying, even if they fumble.
These aren’t headline-worthy, but they matter. They change the way you move through the world, and they often create a ripple effect that reaches far beyond that one small moment.
When Life Doesn’t Go to Plan
Here’s the truth: my life isn’t exactly where I want it to be right now. I’ve been hustling hard, trying to set things in motion, and let’s just say the “perfect plan” hasn’t quite unfolded. But what I’ve come to understand is that the setbacks, the delays, and even the detours often protect us from things we didn’t see coming.
Sometimes the things we think are disasters actually save us from something worse. A missed bus, a canceled appointment, a broken relationship, or an unexpected change of plans can be the universe quietly nudging us toward the people, places, and opportunities we were meant to find.
That day on the bus, I could’ve stayed in my bubble, scrolled on my phone, and ignored the world around me. But connecting with that mum and her daughters was the reminder I needed: kindness is always the right move, and it’s usually the one that leads you to the best stories.
Final Thought
So if you’ve been feeling frustrated with life, stuck on a path that doesn’t seem to be going anywhere, or just caught in the cycle of “bad days” — check in with the energy you’re putting out.
Because the truth is:
You get what you give.
Kindness has a way of changing your whole experience, even when the circumstances stay the same.
So if this message spoke to you, share it with a friend who could use the reminder, hit like, or just drop a 🥰 in the comments.
Let’s make the world — and the bus — a little friendlier.
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