Be Nice (Or Else!) My Metamorphosis Has Begun!

If you know me, you probably know that I am not the nicest person. I never have been, and I never cared. I had this, "I don't like you, or agree with the things you do... so why should I give you the time of day? Talking to you, or pretending that I care about what you have to say is a waist of my time. Why would I want to associate myself with you?" type of attitude. I have always envied, and still do, the girls (or guys) that can mingle and be genuinely nice to everyone... no matter who they are, what they look like, what type of reputation they have etc. How can they really be that nice? I sometimes feel like it's simply not in me.
About an hour ago I began reading the book I have been putting off for a while. Be Nice (Or Else!), by Winn Claybaugh. They give it to all of the students at Paul Mitchell Schools, and Be Nice (Or Else!) is basically their theme. I have been so excited to begin reading it, because I knew I would love it. I have recently discovered I really enjoy feeding off of other people's motivation and inspiration. But I didn't want to read it. I was being lazy, because I knew once I started it, I would want to start being nice. Being nice takes a lot of effort. And what I have learned from this book so far is that being nice is definitely not easy. At least not for me. The first few pages describe the characteristics of "mean" people. Guess what? I am guilty of all those bad traits... in one way or another. I will actually have to "unlearn" all of my not nice behaviors that I have been practicing for my entire life.
When I decided I wanted to be go into the hair industry, especially Paul Mitchell, I quickly realized I was going to have to change my ways. (I think that graduation and growing up a little but also made me a little more self aware of my "unattractive" personality) I think that a lot of the shocked reactions I received when I told people about my career choice had to do with my bland, not nice personality. I even got, "If someone asks you to do something to their hair that you don't want to do, or you don't like... you are going to look at them like they are stupid and tell them 'no'". That's a complete exaggeration, but that's the way people see me (or hopefully SAW me because I don't want to viewed like that anymore).
In high school I was never liked. At first it was because I was shy. I was a new student in 8th grade and I didn't know anyone. I wasn't confident enough to be outgoing, introduce myself or be the first to say hello, so people thought I was a bitch. Then the word got around that I was this "Holy Girl who is a prude and thinks that she is better than everyone else...". I even got the nickname, the "Anti-Christ", and I still to this day don't know why. Then to top it off I started dating a guy that a lot of the girls liked at one point or another and I "stole him" and "changed" him. Eventually I put up a defensive barrier. People were talkin shit, and I wasn't gunna have it. To make a long story short, my high school memories are not any to be proud of. I was not nice, nor did I try to be. In a way I have regrets. I wish I would have got to know the quiet kids, or the ones that nobody talked to. I wish I wouldn't have defended people that were not worth defending, and defended the ones that did deserved it. I wish I would have been able to tell the difference. I wish I wouldn't have worried about things that should have just been let go. I wish I wouldn't have gossiped or said mean things. There are many things I wish I would have done differently, but I guess the old saying is true. You learn from your mistakes.
But back to the book. I will tell you, with a lot of shame, that for a short second I decided I wouldn't blog about this book. My selfishness didn't want to share the overwhelmingly amazing advice and information that Be Nice (Or Else!) has to offer. I wanted it all to myself. That's my inner "not niceness" shining through (Yeah, I know, I've got a long way to go). To counteract that mean thought, I am going to share my book with whoever wants it (after I am done with it). I am actually going to advertise it, like I do with Twilight : ), and recommend it to people, in a nice way of course.
There was a part in the 15 pages that I read that actually made me teary eyed. It was a story about John Paul Dejoria. Winn begins to explain how John Paul is always nice, no matter what the situation. He tells a story about how John Paul has a phone call conversation with the President of the United States, and then has one with a Halloween costume seamstress. He speaks to both with the same degree of unconditional niceness. The story is told a lot better in the book. It really touched me. I hope that someday I can be genuinely nice, not faking it whatsoever.
I'm trying, and at least I have come to realize that I need some work. That's the first step, right? It is not going to be easy, but this book is going to help me. It will be my "Book of Nice" (like The Book of Life, get it? haha).