It’s World Kindness Day today. It is observed in many countries including the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia and the U.A.E. World Kindness Day was first introduced as a day of observation by the World Kindness Movement, according to National Today.
In 2019, the organization was registered as an official NGO under Swiss law, but the history of the group stretches back to a 1997 Tokyo gathering. Several organizations from around the world formed the World Kindness Movement.
The day’s purpose is “to highlight good deeds in the community focusing on the positive power and the common thread of kindness which binds us.” Participants from every inhabited continent continue to participate in such activities as concerts, dances and distributing “kindness cards.”
Here’s what you can do today:
1. Give Hugs
Who doesn’t love a good hug? You can devote your day to hugging strangers, or look to your friends and family to see who may need one. Either way, it’s a warm gesture that can brighten someone’s day, including yours.
2. Take Care of Someone Sick
There’s nothing like a warm bowl of soup when you’re suffering from a cold. See if your coworker with the bad cough could use some hot tea with honey, or just leave someone a ‘Get Well Soon’ note.
3. Sit With Someone Who’s Lonely
No one likes being lonely, so take a seat with someone who is dining alone at a restaurant. Head over to a nursing home and have a chat with the elders, or head over to your local animal shelter to play with some neglected puppies.
4. Write Someone A Note
You can sign up to write anonymous love letters to those who need a pick-me-up. Or, you can type a letter or email to a friend you have neglected to keep in your world. Sit down with some pen and paper, or a keyboard, and let your kind words flow!
5. Tip Someone
Working in food or retail can be one of the most stressful gigs on the planet. Extend your kindness to your cabbie with a movie ticket, or give your pizza driver a hefty tip… a REALLY hefty tip. If you want to get extra creative, pay a gratuity to someone who doesn’t normally receive any appreciation like the garbage haulers or your postman.
