Five Ways to Celebrate World Kindness Day

By Aaron Brophy 11/13/17 | www.samaritanmag.com

Acts of kindness — photo by Darink Maja/Creative Commons
We know every day should be World Kindness Day, but today is official, a day meant to highlight and celebrate the good deeds that people do. Started in 1998 by the World Kindness Movement, which is a coalition of kindness-related organizations and foundations, countries like Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, Italy, Nigeria and the United States all celebrate World Kindness Day.

According to the Kindness Movement, the purpose of the day is to "highlight good deeds in the community, focusing on the positive power and the common thread of kindness that binds us."

World Kindness Day is often an activation that takes place in schools. In Canada, the Kindness Foundation uses themes based on the ideas of courage, compassion, respect, gratitude, integrity, self-awareness, generosity, inclusion and optimism to develop students' social emotional learning.

You don't need to be a student to participate in World Kindness Day, though. Samaritanmag consulted the Random Acts Of Kindness website and found five ways anyone can help spread a little dose of goodwill today. Here are the things we suggest you can do:

1) Ask A Senior Citizen About Their Past

With a wealth of life experience and the wisdom that comes with it, senior citizens often have wonderful insight into the world. Sample questions you could ask a golden ager include "Who has influenced you the most in your lifetime?" "What world events had the biggest impact on you?" and "Who were your heroes and role models while you were growing up?"

2) Send An Encouraging Email

Identify a coworker, classmate, family member or friend who could use a little encouragement and just send them a supportive, positive email. It's so easy to spread a little touch of goodwill like this that you can do it from the comfort of your couch, desk or wherever you're connected to the internet.

3) Praise A Local Business

At its most basic level, when you buy from local businesses, more money stays in the local community and therefore the people around you — neighbours, friends, relatives — benefit more than if that money was spent at national or international retail chains. Knowing this, take a moment to support a local business you like by writing an online review or post. It would probably help their profile.

4) Take Part In A Group Walk

Studies have shown that taking part in group walks helps decrease stress, depression and anxiety and improves one's sense of well-being. So find some friends and go for a walk. Everyone will benefit.

5) Have A Vegetarian Day

To produce one pound of beef requires 2,500 gallons of water. One family could save up to 120,000 gallons of water in one year if they decided to have a "vegetarian day" once per week. It's also a good excuse to try new and interesting recipes.

Watch a video about World Kindness Day

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* Samaritanmag.com is an online magazine covering the good deeds of individuals, charities and businesses.