Celebrating World Kindness Day
“What does it mean to be kind?”
By Averill Yang
What is world kindness day?
World Kindness Day was established by the World Kindness Movement in 1988 to raise awareness on the importance of creating a caring, inclusive world. The theme of 2024, “Kindness, the Ripple Effect”, emphasizes how one small positive act creates a large impact on individuals, groups, and communities. This year, Kindness Day falls on November 13th on a Monday, so you can start the week with kindness in mind.
Why is kindness important?
Kindness is an important trait that brings communities together, builds trust, and is a universally appreciated trait. Kindness has many benefits to others, but it is also known to lower stress, improve mental health, and increase happiness.
Humanity has shown throughout history the importance of kindness. For example, The Real Expedición Filantrópica de la Vacuna (Royal Philanthropic Vaccine Expedition) was a three year expedition spanning three years from 1803 to 1806, led by Dr. Francisco Javier de Balmis, with the goal of vaccinating millions against smallpox. Countless political warfares have shown the importance of humanitarian aid. And now, with the COVID-19 pandemic just beyond the horizon, there is an astonishing amount of division, anxiety, and mistrust throughout the globe. It is evident that kindness is more important than ever before.
But what does it mean to be kind?
We are told countless times to be kind to others, but it is often difficult given the current social and cultural climate. We live in a fast paced world where kindness and generosity is often overlooked in favor of success. Social media creates false expectations and standards of what a “good” life looks like. People have busier schedules and greater societal pressures than ever before. And most importantly, people are losing trust in those around them. It is necessary to understand what kindness means and why it is important, despite the current narrative.
For a start, kindness is inclusive of empathy, a trait that allows oneself to understand and feel what someone else is going through. Empathy is crucial not just because it provides meaning behind someone’s suffering and pain, but it widens one’s perspective; the experience becomes shared rather than mutually exclusive. Thus, empathy provides the means of being kind. But what does kindness itself entail? Is it just being a constant positive presence for others? Is it being giving or sacrificing oneself for the greater good? Sometimes, kindness is a matter of choosing the lesser of two evils. Rather than viewing kindness as simply a “good” act, it may be helpful to view it as a mindset or character of self. It is less about the act and more about the meaning behind that act. That is why even the smallest acts of kindness can make a world of difference.
So how can I practice kindness?
We are constantly told to do more and meet the expectations others put onto us. Social media is now so powerful that it can influence millions of people on what to wear, what to believe, and even their mindsets. It has become commonplace to study and work harder, to ignore everything that doesn’t align with our lives. But some introspection can go a long way. Kindness becomes easier to implement when you have a reason to do so. You could try asking yourself the following questions:
Why should I be kind in an increasingly divisive world?
How does kindness align with my other values?
People are complex and multifaceted. How do their actions reflect their character and circumstances?
Is kindness a weakness or a strength?
It is important to ask these questions and understand that the value of kindness manifests from the meaning behind it. A small act of kindness may be all someone needs to feel wanted, heard, and loved, whether it’s giving someone a compliment, checking in on someone, or giving them a small gift.
Kindness is powerful because it is long lasting, but it can also be shown in many different ways. Asking questions to better understand what kindness means to you may provide the reasons for practicing it. So it might be time to ask yourself, “What does kindness mean to me?”