Kindness is punished not protected

People describe me as a kind person. I have consistent compassion, empathy, respect, and care for others without expecting anything in return.
For years, I have been mistreated for it.
I’ve been told “you need to stop being so nice”
The problem isn’t genuine kindness. The problem is that too often kindness is punished instead of protected.
Why should I have to minimize caring for others?
The world is already very sad and distant. We need more care, not less.
Every day, we walk past hundreds of people. None of them wear signs that say, “I’m grieving,” “I’m exhausted,” or “I’m barely holding it together.” But they’re everywhere.
Kindness might be the only softness they receive.
In the end, it’s not cruelty that heals people. It’s kindness. And if we lose that, we lose the best part of being human.