Being kind is its own reward. Life is generally better if you try to make life better for others. Not like life will be perfect, but better than it would be otherwise.

Like, when I used to work shitty part-time jobs, if I went in with a good attitude and was as kind to those around me as I could be, I had a better day than if I was grumpy and did the bare minimum. Got paid the same shitty wage either way, but my life was better when I was kinder. Sure some people take advantage of that kindness, but most will reflect it back to you.

There can be ways that hard work and kindness lead to material rewards. But in general it is worth being kind simply because you’ll enjoy life more.

(Also, I wouldn’t have married my wife if I hadn’t been kind and befriended someone a lot of other people thought was frustrating or annoying. I had met my wife previously, but only knew her in passing. Years later, we re-met at that friend’s birthday party. Started dating a few months later, and now we’re married! That mutual friend can still sometimes be frustrating or annoying, but we always try to be kind to her because that’s what brought us together.)