Bad-Ass Nice!

nice:
1. pleasing; agreeable; delightful
2. amiably pleasant; kind

I used to be a nice girl. I was no push-over, but I was willing to see the other point of view, willing to compromise. I'd do nice things for people just because. But not only that, I'd do nice things for people because I wanted them to like me. Yeah, it's pathetic, I know, but I was young, I didn't know who I was or what I wanted and that's okay. For a while.

But the whole "nice girl" thing got old. Really old. And so I have been left with a lifetime aversion to the word "nice." It just feels inadequate, you know? Who wants to be nice when you could be awesome? or dynamic? or inspirational? or bad-ass?

As I watched the "Nice Matters" award make its way around the blogosphere, as these things are wont to do, I realized that I was not the only one with an aversion to the word "nice." And when I was awarded the "Nice Matters" award by Cathy, I was... okay fine, I was thrilled, because I do love me some bloggy bling, but also, I wasn't sure what to say.

So I passed it on. But Megan complained, 'cause she's cool like that. Here's what she said:

Hey! Thank you! I am rarely called "nice." Too much attitude creates a force field around me that sort of makes that adjective just bump right off. I'm glad someone thinks I can be nice!

And I realized she was right. No, not that she wasn't nice, but that it was kinda lame to be called nice. "Nice" just doesn't have much oomph to it, you know? Not so cool. But, I do think Megan is nice, so I told her so, but I also think she's bad-ass, so I told her that too. And then I promised to make a button to that effect. So I did:

bad-ass nice:
1. uncompromisingly nice; sticking up for what's right
2. kind to others: without losing sight of one's self
3. hard-core niceness advocate

And actually, since I made it just for Megan, I had no right to be slinging it around. But then, since she's just so freakin' bad-ass nice, Megan gave it back to me! How sweet is that, yo?

So here's who I think is Bad-Ass Nice (besides Megan): (also, this is harder than it looks - I know a lot of bad-ass nice bloggers)

Well, there's Casey of Moosh in Indy who is trying to be patient while her husband looks for a law internship, but who also encourages (oh come on, don't pretend to be innocent, I know you love it) this kind of thing.

And of course we have Kevin, who I absolutely love, and can I tell you how many times my dad made me show him O-Mazing Grace? No, no I can not. Kevin deserves this award, because while he is willing to and capable of making fun of people any time, any place, he also has a big heart and is generous with his friends and loved ones and the whales.

Shauna at Pass the Chocolate is bad-ass nice, because, well, because chocolate! Hello! It's only like the best metaphor ever for bad-ass nice, in fact, if bad-ass nice had an official metaphor/mascot, it would be chocolate. For real. Hey, wait! I'm in charge of this bad-ass nice thing, so yeah, chocolate is now the official metaphor/mascot of the bad-ass nice button. Also, this proves it. And this was really funny.

And also Jessica of A Bushel and a Peck (and a Hug Around the Neck) deserves this award. She began her blog just 42 days ago and jumped in with both feet - way braver than me, who did not comment on any one else's blog for months after the creation of my own. Also, there's this. And this. And this.

I know that pretty much anyone who reads my blog is also Bad-Ass Nice (I mean, really, how could you not be?) but I have to stop somewhere, so for that's it for today. Although I reserve the right to award this again, should the need arise, and of course I expect you, oh worthy recipients, to distribute this award as you see fit. Go on, I trust you.