Today is World Kindness Day, a day that is supposed to remind us about the importance kindness plays in our world. However, seeing this special day dedicated to the act of being kind pop up on my calendar got me thinking that if kindness is something we need to be reminded about, is being kind a rarity? Does kindness even exist any more?
It’s easy to believe that the world is void of kindness when everywhere you turn and every day in the news we are bombarded with political turmoil pitting friends against friends and segments of the population against other segments of the population. The news of yet another mass shooting, an act of terrorism, or other stories of humanity gone wrong makes kindness seem like a far-fetched idealistic dream.
In our daily lives, we encounter countless inconsiderate people with the “me first” attitude and see people disregard rules and laws, taking pleasure in infringing upon our rights to live a peaceful life. Yet, in spite of it all, we still desire to live in a world in which there is still kindness.
In a world turned mad, kindness shouldn’t be thought of or celebrated for just a day, it should be something we strive for each and every day. The fact that we have to set aside a special day on the calendar for us to remember kindness shows just how far removed from our daily lives that kindness has become. It has become so unique, that being kind is seen as revolutionary and amazing instead of the norm.
As much as I want to SMH and scream WTF is wrong with so many people that our world has sunk to levels of such depravity and unkindness, I still have hope and believe that in the end kindness will prevail. I have this hope because, in spite of all that is seemly wrong, there are people being kind and doing heroic deeds every day that make the world seemly right. For every unkind act we see in the news, there is someone somewhere doing their part. They are picking up someone else’s discarded trash, helping a child learn to read, volunteering at an elder center, donating money to good causes, and doing other acts of kindness that don’t make the front page.
Kindness is not just some random act, it is the act of remembering to be human. It is remembering that we all are going through our daily struggles and challenges and deserve to be treated with respect. Kindness starts within each one of us. It starts by changing our perspective to see the goodness in the world, not just the evil and by teaching the next generation that being kind is an essential part of humanity. It’s what binds us together to bring about great change, to leave this world a little bit better than when we arrived.
We may not be able to change the world ourselves, but if we commit to being more patient, helpful, lending a hand to one in need, or even giving a smile and noticing another human being, we can change someone else’s world. And that’s a start.
So in honor of World Kindness Day, take the time to go out of your way to spread kindness and pay it forward.
It’s so simple and easy to be kind:
- Let someone merge into traffic
- Open a door for someone
- Smile at a stranger
- Be polite and say “Please” and “Thank You” to everyone you deal with
- Pick up the phone and call a family member or friend who could use a friendly voice
- Commit to volunteering for an hour or two
- Write a Thank You note to your child’s teacher for their hard word
- Help an elderly neighbor with household chores
- Bite your tongue when you feel like you’re about to complain or chastise someone
The ways to spread kindness are endless.
We all have the power to decide what type of world we want to live in. Today, I choose to live in a world of kindness and will do my part.
Happy World Kindness Day.
What ways will you spread kindness today? Leave a comment and “Share”, “Like”, “Tweet”, or “Pin” this article and help spread the kindness.
