We should live by offering small rewards that reinforce the kind of society we want. When a young person at a restaurant is kind, I make a point of discreetly leaving a tip. If the food is delicious, I always say so, and I make sure even a small act of consideration is recognized in a big way.
There must already be plenty of difficult customers who take kindness for granted. There should also be people who thank those who overcome that and continue to be kind. When we treat something as a given and never express our appreciation, it eventually disappears. When we recognize its value, however, it grows stronger.
A society filled with kindness, care, hospitality, and love is strengthened when people notice those qualities and actively express their gratitude. I want to teach my children the joy of practicing kindness, care, hospitality, love, and gratitude—and leave more of those things in the world.