“When you are kind to others, it not only changes you, it changes the world.”
~Harold Kushner
As I began my journey to being a more responsible citizen of earth, I researched and pursued ways in which I could be less wasteful, more ecologically responsible, kinder, and more considerate and compassionate to our planet. As I learned about alternatives to wasteful products, common every day pollutants, and toxic chemicals in our daily lives, I had an aha moment. As incredibly important as it is to be mindful of the damage we’re doing to our planet, it’s equally important to recognize the damage we’re doing to each other. It’s time to adopt a mindset of kindness and compassion to our fellow humans. With the latest trend of “Karen” documentaries, aka YouTube videos, I’m reminded of the truly deep impact of kindness (or lack thereof). When viewing a Karen in the wild, the one thing that is glaringly clear is her complete lack of happiness or inner peace. Karen is so occupied with finding insignificant reasons to be offended, she is raising her risk of high blood pressure, heart attacks, strokes, and depression. Whoa, that’s heavy.
On the flip side, I’ve never personally witnessed (or even heard of) a person who is actively engaged in an act of kindness be angry about it. I’ve not seen one single person pay a compliment to another person as they hysterically high-pitched screamed at the top of their lungs while demanding to speak to a manager. That’s the thing about kindness. It impacts your view of the world for the better. Not only that, kinder people tend to be less stressed, more grateful, and have better health. In fact, scientific studies have shown that kindness activates the part of your brain that releases a hormone that makes you feel pleasure. The kinder you are, the better you will feel. Pretty trippy, huh?
I know that not everyone can devote a portion of their income to a good cause or can spend every weekend performing charitable service to others but the good news is that there are so many other ways to work kindness into your everyday life with very little effort. Even the smallest efforts each day can make a world of difference to another, perhaps even Karen. Below is a list of my very favorite ways to spread kindness that will cost you little to nothing and aren’t a huge investment in your time:
- Post-it positivity: Write an encouraging and uplifting note to someone and leave it in a random place such as the grocery store, a public park, or a coworker’s desk.
- Respect your elders: Find a pen pal at an assisted-living center and start building a relationship. Elderly people are the coolest and have so much wisdom and knowledge to share, but sadly are often discarded and forgotten.
- Fundraising is fun!: Start a fundraising campaign on social media for a cause that’s important to you. This can inspire others to give or start one of their own.
- Less litter: Litterbugs are the worst. Rather than being annoyed by someone else’s lack of common decency, pick up the litter and discard of it appropriately. Perhaps you’ll inspire someone else to do the same.
- Stranger non-danger: Pay a compliment to a stranger. This could be your local cashier, barista, service worker, etc. These people often go unappreciated and a compliment can change the course of their entire workday. Please and thank you are nice too!
These are just a few simple practices to build kindness in yourself, your communities, and your world. Remember, kindness has a way of being contagious.
Disclaimer: The use of the name Karen in this blog is intended to call out a certain type of behavior, not an actual person named Karen. I’m sure there are plenty of actual Karens that are quite lovely.