Don’t Be an Ass Clown: The Case for Kindness (Because Karma Is Real)

Let’s be real: no one wakes up and thinks, “Today feels like a good day to ruin someone else’s.” Yet, somehow, there’s always that person—the one who cuts you off in traffic, snaps at the barista, or sends a rude email just because they can. But here’s the thing: being an ass clown to others doesn’t just make their day worse—it guarantees your own downfall.

Why? Because life has a funny way of serving up humble pie, usually when you least expect it.

The Domino Effect of Being a Jerk

Every time you send negativity into the world, it’s like flicking over a domino. It doesn’t just stop with the person you’ve wronged. Your bad mood might ruin their day, which could lead to them snapping at someone else, and so on. Suddenly, that one impatient moment has spiraled into a chain of misery. And guess what? It often circles right back to you.

Ever been the one to judge someone for making a mistake at work, only to royally screw something up yourself the next day? Or rolled your eyes at a friend for oversharing, only to find yourself oversharing during your next emotional meltdown? Yeah, karma has no expiration date, and it’s got an excellent memory.

The Alternative: Treating People With Kindness

Kindness is free, contagious, and leaves everyone better off—including you. When you choose to react with grace instead of judgment, patience instead of irritation, and a smile instead of a scowl, you start a ripple of positive energy. That ripple can turn someone’s bad day around, maybe even yours.

Here’s a thought experiment: What if you went into every interaction assuming the best of people instead of the worst? What if the barista is distracted because they’re working a double shift, not because they’re incompetent? What if the driver who cut you off is rushing to pick up a sick child, not trying to ruin your morning? Kindness starts with perspective, and perspective leads to connection.

What You Put Out, You Get Back

Think of your energy as a boomerang. Throw out negativity, and it’ll come whipping back at you faster than you expect. But put out kindness, and the world often has a way of returning it in unexpected ways. Maybe the kindness you show a stranger today will come back to you as support from a friend tomorrow. Or maybe it won’t, but you’ll still have the satisfaction of knowing you made someone else’s life a little easier—and that’s its own reward.

In Conclusion: We’re All Human

Here’s the truth: we’re all going to have bad days. We’ll all mess up, lose our tempers, or make decisions we regret. And when that happens, don’t you want to be met with kindness instead of cruelty?

So next time you’re tempted to be an assclown, pause. Take a deep breath. Remind yourself that everyone is fighting battles you can’t see. And choose kindness. Not because it’s easier, but because it’s always the better outcome—for you, for them, and for the world.

And hey, if you’re kind enough, maybe karma will let you off the hook the next time you do make a mistake.