Do you remember vividly the last act of kindness that you experienced or that you gave to another?

Mine was a few months ago. It was a long workday, and I was exhausted.  I had just navigated through an hour and thirty minutes of New York City stop and go traffic on the Belt Parkway. A normally 30 minute ride on an empty Sunday morning was the roadtrip of red lights and idealistic speed limits that night. I eventually made it to group Bible study, and at the end of the meeting my friend’s little 4 foot zero, 8 year old daughter approached me. She had recently returned from her first trip ever to Disney World and her face looked like she had talk on it.  “Welcome back Veera*” I said to her happy smile. She reached out for a hug; I stooped down to give my little person a welcome back hug that she accepted.  She extended her little balled fist and gestured for the palm of my hand.  I didn’t understand…Is this a new handshake? Gang shake?  I then realized what her gesture meant and then I opened up my hand and mission accomplished, she placed her scrunched up hand into the palm of my hand and then walked away.  I opened up the palm of my hand and oh ma goodness, voila, one of the best gifts I ever received in my life.  A little elementary school soul remembered me on her adventure at the Magic Kingdom.  

In 1998 the World Kindness Movement brought attention and endeavored to emphasize the need of a global awareness to be kind.  The World Kindness Movement is a non-profit organization with no political, religious or commercial affiliations.  There constitutional vision states that they “acknowledge the fundamental importance of simple human kindness as a basic condition of a satisfying and meaningful life.”

This organization was formed at a conference in Tokyo a year earlier when Japan brought several kindness organizations of multiple nations together at a conference to address the need to display kindness openly globally.  Monday, November 13, 2023, is world Kindness Day and has been a yearly event celebrated every November 13th for the past 25 years since 1998.

Each year is themed with the value of Kindness.  The theme for 2023 is “Be Kind Wherever Possible.”

10 acts of kindness 

1. Treat a loved one or a stranger behind you online for coffee.

2. Take a plant or a flower to someone in the home for the elderly.

3. Say please and thank you.

4. Make eye contact and ask the person if you can go in front of them in NYC traffic.

5. Buy a lollipop and give it to your students or kids.

6. Buy a retro candy like Hubba Bubba, Bazooka or Bubbalicious and give it to an older person.

7. Buy a stranger lunch.

8. Hold a door open for someone.

9. Smile at every Buy a stranger lunch. The last time this happened to me, I was traveling in Guatemala – and it touched me very deeply.

10. Put change in an expiring meter.

11. Offer up your seat.

12. Return a misplaced or lost item.

13. Smile at random people (not creepily or that don’t look creepy) on your way to work.

14. Volunteer.

15. Show Patience and understanding with yourself and others.

16. Let someone go in front of you at any line you are in.

17. Listen carefully to what someone is really passionate about.

18.  Ask a customer service person genuinely how they’re doing.

19.   Wear or use a gift a friend gave you in their presence.

20.   Notice the good in your family, friends, and workmates.

21. Specifically commend the actions and deeds of your family, friends and workmates.

22. Pause and listen for the feelings behind words and sincerely acknowledge even if you don’t agree.

23.  Say liberally and mean it: “I’m sorry.”

24. Leave a generous tip and draw a smiley face on the receipt.

25.  Leave a yellow sticky note with a kind message in random places.

26.  Tell random people and/or friends do you want a laugh?  Then tell them: “I used to run a dating service for chickens, but I struggled to make hens meet.”

27. Tell them another one: “Hedgehogs – why can’t they just share the hedge?” 

28. Another one: “If Barbie is so popular, why do you have to buy her friends?”

29. Tell someone that you think is cute: “Do you like Star Wars? Because Yoda only one for me!’

30. Write a handwritten note, card, or letter to a friend.

31. Give a phone call to check in on an older or sick loved one.

32. Give a hug to a loved one.

33. Smile readily with people! 

The word on the street is that Krispy Kreme is celebrating World Kindness Day by offering customers a free dozen donuts at participating locations. 

It started with a day, it’s now a week.  Let’s make it a year and simply a choice of how we live our life.  The beautiful thing about kindness is that one act spreads like a pebbled tossed into the pond and the subsequent ripples spread outward and builds up children, families, and the human race.  What act of kindness do you appreciate? Add to the list in the comments below.

 *Name is changed.