Kindness Week 2017- Spread the Kindness :)
This week, starting from February 12th until 18th, we celebrate International Kindness Week. The initiative started by the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation and it is celebrated every year. What a great idea it is, we really need more kindness, gentleness and humanity in our lives! One small kindness act can start the ripple effect 🙂 We all should think about it and find the ways of how to create a kinder and more friendly world we could enjoy. It’s never too much of it, don’t you think?
About Random Acts of Kindness Foundation
As they describe themselves -“Established in 1995, RAK is an internationally recognized nonprofit based in Denver, CO. We consist of a small team that is dedicated to inspiring everyone to practice and spread kindness in their own lives. Ultimately, we’re here for the kind-hearted do-gooders who are looking to spread kindness where they can which is why we provide FREE online resources to encourage acts of kindness across the globe (schools, communities, every-day experiences, etc.)”. Check their website as it is an amazing source of wonderful ideas and inspirations.
Being kind
The awareness of being kind and selfless acts of spreading the kindness around are really needed in today’s world. It would be good if it didn’t need to be taught and came as a reflex but it is not always a case. Teaching kids the kindness from the small age would definitely benefit the whole future society. Lets hope the kindness can be a natural state for everybody one day. It is very important to be generous, considerate, thoughtful and kind to others but also to yourself. We sometimes forget about it… What act of kindness are you going to do for yourself today?
Few words of inspiration
“Three things in human life are important: the first is to be kind; the second is to be kind; and the third is to be kind.” – Henry James
“Kindness is a language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.” – Mark Twain
“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle.” – Plato
“Tenderness and kindness are not signs of weakness and despair, but manifestations of strength and resolution.” – Kahlil Gibran
“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” – Aesop
“Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love.” – Lao Tzu
Benefits of kindness
Apart of the amazing effect on others and making our world a better place, kindness has also many benefits for the person who performs the act of kindness. Based on some studies by researchers including author and scientist dr David R. Hamilton, kindness has many positive effects on our body and life (find the whole article by dr Hamilton here).
Kindness:
- makes us happier
- is good for the heart
- slows aging
- improves relationships
- is contagious!
Dr Hamilton just (February 2017) published the book about it – The Five Side Effects of Kindness: This Book Will Make You Feel Better, Be Happier & Live Longer
Listen also to his amazing TED talk – very inspiring!
So what you could do?
Lets join the kindness revolution and start the ripple effect! Pay forward any act of kindness you experienced and be kind to others!
Here are just few ideas (but think about what you could do):
- pay for someone else parking
- buy somebody a coffee
- surprise somebody with a “thank you card”
- make a donation to charity
- help someone busy
- give someone a flower
- stop and talk to a homeless person
- take someone out for lunch and pay for it
- give someone a thoughtful compliment
- help a neighbour
What is your idea of being kind?
The more kindness we spread the better world we make around us!
Share love and kindness and see it coming back to you!!!
What small act of kindness you could do today? Please share your ideas 🙂
It’s nice to know that there is an international kindness week. In today’s society where being kind can be perceived as weak, being brave to spread kindness and wear it like a shining armor is much needed. We can smile at strangers as a way of radiating kindness.
Thank you for this article!
Hi Katey, I hope and truly believe that being kind is not perceived by most people as weak. Maybe the ones who do feel that way never really experience true kindness, and that is really sad.
I totally agree that the world needs more kindness. It’s both wonderful and sad that we have a week dedicated to kindness. It’s wonderful because kindness in all its forms should always be celebrated. It is sad because kindness should never really need to be promoted or encouraged. It should come naturally to everyone. But we do not live in a utopian reality. So I understand the need to promote and increase awareness about being kind. And the great thing about being kind is that we do not need to do big things. Small acts of kindness can make a great impact on the life of someone who is down.
Thanks for sharing.
You are very right Kevon- we don’t need huge actions because even smallest act of kindness can be contagious and start the ripple and create change!Thanks for your comment!
Thank you for sharing this Elektra. My philosophy is literally “making the world smile,” and what better way to do so than to show kindness during this special week. I’ve never heard of RAK before, but based on your description they seem like a really great company. I checked out their website and plan on joining in on Kindness week by spreading the joy of a movement I practice called parkour. It’s a really innocent discipline that takes you back to when you were a child being adventurous on the playground.
Appreciate your comment Kamari! I love your life philosophy- “making the world smile” 🙂
Good on you for joining in the Kindness week activities! Please come back and share with us your little acts of kindness.
I love this page because these days people are incredibly self centered these days. I always try to be kind in small ways in public doing things like holding doors, letting someone cross the road and sometimes just a simple smile and “hello” can make someone’s day.
Hi Zach, thanks for your comment. I always try to see good in people, everyone is a mix of black and white. Let’s hope that by spreading more kindness around we will awake their kind side 🙂
Love kindness week and the idea. We all need more kindness in these times. I think kindness is all the things you mentioned and that it is important to see that it’s about things in our every day life. Asking a sad kid whats wrong, helping someone disabled to get on a bus and so on. If we wait for the perfect opportunity to be kind it will never happen. Thanks and bless you:)
Thanks Linda! I love your ideas of kindness! Little actions can speak very loud! Lets spread it around!
This is a great post and some great comments.
I really try to live by these sentiments of being more helpful, kind and thoughtful, even when something or someone bothers me, I always try to look for the brighter side and try to understand those folks could just be having a bad day.
I remember a story (cant remember where I read it now), but it was about a guy on the train with his 2 children, the children were a bit rowdy and argumentative, and the guy was really not doing much about it, so someone told him to keep the kids under control, which is fair enough I suppose, but he responded with, yes, I am so sorry I was miles away, we have just come from the hospital and we have just been told my wife and their mother is terminally ill with cancer and has been given 1-2 to live…I am on the way home to collect some things…
It really upset me, because it made me remember we have no idea what other people may be going through and how much pain or sorrow they have in their lives right now, the guy was likely not a bad parent and his kids where likely not bad kids, but all of them were reeling from this harrowing news and the guy must have been in agony over his wife and how he was going to tell his kids, how he was going to get through it all and keep his family intact…
I now try my very best to mindful, though I also accept there are some folks who are in fact just plain old ass hats…
Best wishes
Neil
Thanks for your awesome comment Neil!
Yes, I came upon this story as well. It is quite eye opening!!! We never know what others go through so being kind, thoughtful and considerate is always the best approach.
Just repeating the quote from my post- “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle.” – Plato
What a beautiful resource – gorgeous site and very informative, John
Thanks John! I’m glad you like it!