Living in this world, it can be hard to stay positive. Us as people go through so much on a daily basis, whether it’s societal pressures, your health or prejudice. People go through so much that they can’t control. This can take a toll on you physically, mentally and emotionally. But one thing you can control is how you react.

November 13 represents the start of World Kindness Week. According to inspiredkindness.com, World Kindness Day is a global day, celebrated annually, that promotes the importance of being kind to each other, to yourself, and to the world. The purpose of this day is to help everyone understand that compassion for others is what binds us all together. This understanding has the power to bridge the gap between nations.

According to nationaltoday.com, World Kindness Day was first introduced as a day of observation by the World Kindness Movement. In 2019, the organization was registered as an official NGO under Swiss law, but the history of the group stretches back to a Tokyo-based convention in 1997. An array of institutions and associations based in countries including Australia, Thailand, the United States, and the United Kingdom had been assembled at this conference because of their dedication to championing kindness in society. The initial configuration of the World Kindness Movement would form as a result of this event, with the written declaration of their inception stating their “pledge to join together to build a kinder and more compassionate world.” In 1998, in pursuit of this aim, they would facilitate the launch of the inaugural World Kindness Day.

Some ways for you to participate in World Kindness Week is to write notes of kindness on a small piece of paper and stick them in random library books. Give notes of appreciation to family, friends or people at your local grocery store. Pay for someone’s meal at a restaurant or the person behind you in the drive thru or encourage others to be kind.

Although World Kindness Week has impacted so many lives it’s important to be kind not just this week but every day. Because the truth is, you never know what someone is going through. So, a simple compliment or just being an ear to listen to can really change the trajectory of someone’s life or even how they view themselves.

Written by: Janay Brown