WHY KINDNESS MATTERS

The great Dalai Lama once said, “Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.” Indeed, kindness is the universal language that can be spoken by everyone. Here are many ways to be kind.

BE KIND TO PEOPLE. Acts of kindness can make the world a happier place for everyone. “Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see”, said the great story writer Mark Twain. Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around, said noted educator and author Leo Buscaglia.

BE KIND TO ANIMALS & PLANTS. Be kind to any kind, not just mankind. Be kind to anything that lives, says a Native American proverb. Kindness can be anything – from watering a tree to feeding a stray animal. Animals have hearts that feel, eyes that see, and families to care for, just like humans – and their lives are no less precious than ours. Trees are like us too, roots on the ground and head to the sky.

BE KIND TO THE PLANET. Kindness extends beyond interactions with others. Do you care about the environment? Are you showing it by reusing grocery bags, putting litter in bins and picking up litter you pass in the street? Do you air dry clothes instead of using a dryer, walk or cycle instead of getting a lift, donate clothes to charity or toys to a children’s hospital, buy pre-loved items for yourself and turn off lights when leaving an empty room? These small initiatives add up to lifestyle habits that embody living well, both at a personal level and as part of the community (source: The Parents’ Guide to).

BE KIND TO YOURSELF. Self-kindness matters too. You cannot pour from an empty cup. Be kind to yourself – in thoughts, words and actions. And then let your kindness flood the world.