Maxxing Out Decency

I keep seeing all these “‑maxxing” trends online — looks‑maxxing, dopamine‑maxxing, productivity‑maxxing, gym‑maxxing, even fiber‑maxxing. Everybody’s trying to optimize something.

So I want to introduce a new trend: decency‑maxxing.

Decency‑maxxing is about learning to see each other as actual human beings again. It’s choosing dignity over cruelty, even when it’s easier to be dismissive. It’s respecting other religions and cultures without acting like someone else’s identity is a threat.

It’s remembering that politeness and courtesy aren’t weaknesses. They’re signs of strength — the kind that doesn’t need to tear someone down to feel tall.

It’s being willing to apologize when we’re wrong, even when our pride doesn’t want to. It’s showing empathy for people who are struggling — the poor, the sick, the folks living on the margins because society keeps telling them they’re “not enough.”

Decency‑maxxing means treating people as equals instead of deciding who’s “worthy” or “unworthy” based on how they look, how they vote, where they come from, or what they believe.

If we’re going to max out anything, maybe it should be our capacity to care for one another. That’s the kind of trend I’d love to see catch on.