Importance of Kindness

The New Year brings with it a new opportunity to really evaluate what’s important and work to make life better for ourselves and everyone around us. Over the break I’ve been thinking a lot about how we can all make 2017 a stand out year of happiness and positivity, and one of the best ways I can think of doing this is through kindness.

Kindness is such an important characteristic – so we should all work on being more friendly, generous and considerate. To help you do this, this year I challenge you to complete the 15 random acts of kindness as listed below. I will be carrying them out myself, too. The more people smile, the more the world will smile.

1. Tell a joke

2. Call a friend or a relative

3. Give a compliment to a stranger

4. Make up with anyone you’ve fallen out with (even if you feel it’s their fault)

5. Give someone a hug

6. Leave a happy note for someone to find

7. Email an old teacher who has made a difference in your life

8. Hand-write someone a letter, and mail it

9. Smile at someone on the street, just because

10. Talk to the shy person who’s sitting by themselves at a party

11. Help a parent with their baby stroller

12. Help someone struggling with heavy bags

13. Stop to talk to a homeless person

14. Give up your seat to someone on the bus or train

15. Give someone a book you think they’d like

There’s never been a time where the world needs kindness so much. If we were to all do just one of these simple acts then we would create a massive groundswell of positive change.

Credit to Richard Branson