When I was 24 I lived in Hungary. It was my second year living abroad, and I was living outside Budapest, in a small town called Budaors. I was an English teacher in an elementary and middle school. Teaching was hard, and I was lonely in this small town. On the weekends I would often go to Budapest and stay with my friend Wendy, who now lives in San Miguel, Mexico. I distinctly remember that she would draw me baths and cook for me and try to pep me up for the upcoming week.
And she was honest. I was very unsure of myself and wasn't at all clear as to what I "was doing" with my life - and obviously wasn't even clear about me. One night after a glass of wine or two, I asked her to tell me something true about me. She said I was nice.
I was like, NICE?? I was so surprised with her answer. But then she listed off a few other NICE people, and they seemed alright, so then I was okay with being known as NICE too. Now I think that it's a compliment, and I only hope that I am still nice and continue to be nice. And I hope my young girls grow up nice too. (Among other things like brave, strong, happy and healthy).
We're all nice!