The littlest things can make the biggest differences.
A simple “thank you” can change someone’s day. A quick “do you need any help with that?” can restore someone’s faith in their community. And just one hour of your time can mean the world to someone.
That’s why, on Nov. 13, the entire globe is celebrating World Kindness Day—and you should, too.
World Kindness Day was introduced in 1998 by the World Kindness Movement, which aims to inspire individuals towards greater kindness by connecting nations to create a kinder world.
This day is a reminder that being nice and spreading kindness can work wonders, even in small amounts.
And that’s true whether you’re at work, in school, shopping, at home, and even online.
“It’s an opportunity for each of us to take the time to do something kind for someone else,” said Dr. Lynn Ortale, President of Maria College, in an interview with NEWS10.
“Particularly something that is a surprise. It’s kind of a random act of kindness,” she added.
And it’s something millions of people and businesses are taking part in.
For example, Krispy Kreme vowed to give the first 500 guests at each of their participating stores nationwide a free dozen of donuts. No purchase necessary.
That means each store will be giving out a total of 6,000 donuts for free on World Kindness Day.
“World Kindness Day is a reminder that we can all make a positive impact in people’s lives, including through small gestures like sharing a sweet treat,” said Dave Skena, Krispy Kreme’s global chief brand officer, according to Today.
So, after you get your free donut from Krispy Kreme, let’s remember to each do our part on this special day—and every day, for that matter.
And if you need a little inspiration or are running out of ideas, here are some practical things we can all do to make this world a better place.
Spread kindness through your words
Indian-American author Deepak Chopra once said, “Language creates reality. Words have power. Speak always to create joy.”
One of the easiest ways we can spread kindness is through our words and the ways we speak to one another—as well as how we speak to ourselves.
Here are some examples of how we can use our voice to build each other up:
- Make it a point to give a stranger a compliment today
- Make sure you say “please,” “thank you,” and “you’re welcome”
- Leave a nice comment on someone’s social media post
- Call someone you haven’t spoken to in a while
- Tell your friends and family how much you love and appreciate them
- Send a random motivational text to someone you know
- Smile, say hello, and ask strangers how they’re doing
- Try to learn something new about someone you already know by engaging in conversation
- Put a surprise handwritten note with a motivational quote on your co-worker’s desk
- Leave a positive review on your favorite restaurant’s Google page
It’s important to remember that our words can brighten someone’s day just as fast as they can ruin someone’s day.
And it doesn’t matter if you’re talking to someone online or in-person, we all have the opportunity to say something that can make someone smile. No effort required.
Give someone your undivided attention
Words matter, but time is valuable.
When you’re not spreading kindness with your words, remember that you can always spread kindness with your time.
Give someone your undivided attention, lend them your ear if they need to vent, volunteer at a local food bank, help your parents with chores around the house.
Better yet, take some time out of your day to learn CPR. Hopefully you don’t need to use it, but it’ll come in handy if you do.
Here are some other ways you can spread kindness today with your time:
- Offer to help someone load their groceries in their car
- Cook your family a nice home-cooked meal
- Volunteer at a local charity
- Ask your parents if they need any help around the house
- Throw a “Kindness Day” party with your friends or family
- Help someone if they appear to be lost or confused
- Bake some cookies for your coworkers
- Pick up trash off the ground, even if it’s not yours
- Let someone cut you in line, especially if they seem to be in a rush
- Give someone your seat on the bus or subway
And don’t forget—just because someone isn’t asking for help, doesn’t mean they don’t need or want it.
Famous speaker Simon Sinek once said in a speech that two of the most valuable things we can learn in life are 1) how to accept help when it’s offered and 2) how to ask for help when it’s needed.
Buthe brought up a good point that most people who need help either don’t ask for it or are too shy to accept it.
So, on this World Kindness Day, if you have the time to give someone, then doing so could be the single most greatest thing you accomplish today.
Donate to someone who needs it more
When Krispy Kreme came forward and vowed to give away thousands of free donuts on this special day, they knew they would be taking a financial hit.
After all, those donuts cost money and the workers making those donuts cost money, too.
But that’s one thing we need to remember about World Kindness Day. While we don’t all have extra money laying around, some of us do—and others could use it more.
Now, I’m not saying to go around and start handing out money to strangers, but buying the person’s drink behind you in line at the coffee shop could be just what that person needs today.
And it could inspire the person behind them to do the same.
Here are some other ways you can spare a few dollars (or items) today in honor of World Kindness Day:
- Send flowers to seniors in a nursing home
- Buy a homeless person a warm meal
- Donate money to a charity that means a lot to you or your family
- Clean those summer clothes out of your closet and give them to a Goodwill
- Pay for someone’s toll or expired parking meter
- Buy a gift card and give it to a stranger
- If you normally tip 20%, increase that tip to 30% today
Whether you’re buying food for a stranger, a gift for a special someone, or donating to a charity, every little bit counts—no matter how small or large.
And always remember: little by little, a little can become a lot.
Don’t forget to be kind to yourself, too
When most people think about World Kindness Day, they think about what they can do to make someone else’s day a little brighter.
But while that’s a big part of what Nov. 13 is all about, it only tells half the story.
Because in order to be kind to others, we need to first learn how to be kind to ourselves.
“Self-care is not selfish or self-indulgent,” writes Jennifer Louden in “The Woman’s Comfort Book: A Self-Nurturing Guide for Restoring Balance in Your Life.”
“We cannot nurture others from a dry well. We need to take care of our own needs first, so that we can give from our surplus, our abundance,” she continues.
Here are some ways you can be kind to yourself on this World Kindness Day:
- Replace every negative thought with a positive one
- Pat yourself on the back when something good happens
- Encourage yourself to keep going when things get difficult
- Write yourself encouraging notes throughout the day
- Go get that massage you’ve been putting off for months
- Buy yourself that dress or video game you’ve been wanting
- Cook yourself a nice meal
- Remind yourself that you’re enough and you have value
I want to leave with one more quote, this one from clinical psychologist Dr. Christopher Germer’s book titled “The Mindful Path to Self-Compassion: Freeing Yourself from Destructive Thoughts and Emotions.”
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“Self-compassion is simply giving the same kindness to ourselves that we would give to others.”