Kind of a big day
Solomon Palmer, Staff Writer
Photo courtesy of Ava Stephens
Do you want all of the brotherly love of Christmas with none of the financial ruin? If so, then look no further than World Kindness Day on Nov. 13.
Founded in 1998 by the World Kindness Coalition, this holiday observes and encourages human connection. It is observed in several countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Canada and Singapore. The goal of World Kindness Day is the emphasize the power of good deeds in the community, and get us all a head start to get on the nice list this year.
There’s, of course, all the basic things we know to do for others. Holding open doors, greeting strangers and rounding up to St. Jude’s Hospital. It’s time to graduate to Kindness 201, and demonstrate love with more originality.
- Cleaning your roommate’s side of the dorm. A less glamorous act of kindness, but a pleasant surprise for any student burning in late-semester assignments.
- Leave a good review for small businesses. We often never fail to subject poor establishments to our unbridled hatred, be it online or word of mouth. However, when satisfied with a meal or drink, our response is practically neutral (assuming you skipped the tip screen). In the same way that bad reviews save others from our fate, a good review can go a long way to promote the unrecognized businesses in the community.
- Recycle your study notes. In preparation or after a test, consider passing down your study notes to friends or freshman in your field of study instead of throwing them out.
- Handwrite a card. While the endless novelty of sound chips and sombrero-toting chihuahuas breathe life into any birthday party, the thoughtfulness and intimacy of a handwritten card is irreplaceable. An easy go-to design is bubble letters filled in with colorful patterns.
- Sharpening pencils. If you are the friend that lends all of your supplies, go the extra mile this Nov. 13. and sharpen your friends’ pencils (which of course they are borrowing from you). On your next break in a study session, take the writing tools of the table on a trip to a sharpener, and welcome your study partners back with the pleasant surprise of neater notes.
- Carry or buy an extra treat. Along the lines of lending to freeloading friends, you can show love to people by carrying extra of whatever keeps you going throughout the day. Whether it be a candy bar, stick of gum or an emergency Celsius, there is always someone who could really use it.
- Take someone’s plate in the cafeteria. The next time you see someone doomscrolling with an empty plate in front of them, offer to walk it to the conveyor belt on your way to it yourself.
- Be kind to yourself. The person most easy to overlook on a day of good deeds is ourselves. In the same way our communities are in need of goodwill, our inner conscience can be its own harshest critic. Remember this Nov. 13 that you are worth loving by giving yourself grace for a bad grade, allowing yourself that sugary treat and taking a well-deserved scroll break without the profound guilt.
Unlike the modern perception of many holidays, World Kindness Day is not about going above and beyond with gifts or decorations. Nov. 13 is a day to observe the small acts of goodwill that make us human and the days bearable. Happy World Kindness Day.
