Human Kindness: It's Not That Hard

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In today's hectic, busy world, it seems to me that there are many people who forget how important it is to simply be kind. I know that most of the people who read this will think, "I'm plenty kind!", but is it true? Are you as nice as you think? I have a very difficult role in the world. I'm perpetually nice and I'm compelled to go out of my way to be kind, even at my own expense. I balance that out by being heavily sarcastic. To see people struggle or suffer... it affects me, and deeply. I have to wonder if there isn't something wrong with me, at times. I'm ridiculed and criticized for being a "door mat" or a "pushover". The truth is, I think it's awful that people have this perception of niceness. People view it as being weak. As being easily manipulated. As being naive. I can tell you from experience that I know exactly what I'm doing when I give my last dollar to the man on the bridge who plays his saxophone after basketball games. I know exactly what I'm doing when I instantly forgive people who have hurt me physically and emotionally. I can tell you that it doesn't take much time to hold a door for someone, or smile and say hello when I pass someone on the street. It doesn't hurt me to be sincere when I wish someone a great night, or honestly ask them how their day has been so far. So why is it that I see so much indifference and outright cruelty almost everywhere I go? Why are so many people against being kind? Why do people simply not care about other people? Why is it okay to be mean if it gets you what you want? I'm extremely curious about this. I'm a grown woman with two kids. I'm agnostic, so it's not as though I'm afraid of hell. Why am I so compelled to do good, and so frustrated by those who don't feel the same way? Thoughts?