I think that people often underestimate the power of themselves. we never truly know when a kind word really can uplift someone else. By the same token, we never know when an unkind word or act will really tear someone else apart.
As friends it seems that we underestimate how much we can really help someone to feel better if we would just take the time. I know we all hear stories like "I stopped to help someone pick up their books which had fallen.................. and at graduation they told me that day that they were going home to kill themselves and didn't because now they knew someone cared....." and maybe these stories do seem a little unrealistic, but lets face it, we really do have in our possession the power to help those around us and make their lives better before it reaches that point. So why do so few people take the time to do so? All it takes is a hi I was thinking about you today or a smile to a stranger. Yes this seems cheesy etc, but look at it this way, what harm can it do? It only takes a moment to say hi or send someone a text just to say hi, even less time to smile at someone. Really, it won't kill anyone to take five minutes out of their lives to do a kind act but it may truly make someone who is suffering feel better-- so isn't it worth it; isn't that person worth even five minutes of time??