As the name implies, World Kindness Day is a holiday that encourages warmth and goodwill in people across the globe. It’s there to remind people that kindness is the key to connection, overcoming divisions and barriers.
Its roots date back to the World Kindness Movement at a Tokyo conference in 1998. It’s now a worldwide movement to promote kindness and compassion in every person.
It’s easy to participate in the holiday. On November 13th, the most important goal is to do something kind for another person. There is a rich history behind this seemingly simple celebration.
Whether you share inspirational quotes, kindness rocks, or volunteer, World Kindness Day can become a family event. Here’s everything you need to know about World Kindness Day and how to be a part of it.
History
World Kindness Day has roots dating back to 1997 with a convention based in Tokyo. Many countries were attending to encourage kindness among other people.
These nations included Australia, the United States, Thailand, and the United Kingdom. After assembling, the World Kindness Movement was born. This included a pledge stating “to build a kinder and more compassionate world.”
Since its inception, World Kindness Day has become a global phenomenon. In 2019, Sweden registered it as an official NGO. Every year in November, people worldwide come together to celebrate kindness and the impact of the human heart. While it isn’t an observed holiday in the United States, many people set aside time to participate.
World Kindness Day has aimed to achieve the goal of highlighting good deeds in the community. By focusing on kindness and positivity, the world can be one step closer to peace. For more info, take a look at the history of its inauguration and positive influence:
- November 13th, 1998: The creation of World Kindness Day after a convention held in Tokyo, Japan.
- 2009: WKD becomes an observed holiday in Singapore, India, and Italy.
- 2010: Foundation of Kindness Day is celebrated in the U.K. for the first time.
- 2019: The World Kindness Movement is officially recognized as an NGO in Sweden.
Traditions
There’s no right or wrong way to celebrate World Kindness Day. The greatest tradition has always been to spread simple acts of kindness. Above all things, the spreading of compassion over hatred has been the most outstanding achievement of the holiday. The tradition of kindness and goodwill never ends, with or without a holiday to celebrate it.
Purpose
The purpose of WKD is to highlight and celebrate goodwill in the community. As a loving reminder of the power of kindness, it reminds people that simple deeds can have a huge impact. All it takes is one person to provide a helping hand for others.
A simple act of kindness can be as simple as holding a door open for someone. This results in a ripple effect that’s felt across the world. Yet, as simple as it may seem, it could positively impact the course of an entire person’s life.
Involvement
There are many wonderful ways to participate in World Kindness Day. Some of these can be simple enough for the whole family to get involved. These can also be done anywhere, whether you’re at work, home, or a community event.
Educate your children on World Kindness Day and encourage them to get in on the fun. Make it a goal for everyone to participate in at least one act of kindness that day.
Just remember that no act of kindness is too small. Your act(s) of kindness can be very ambitious or as simple as paying for another person’s coffee. Sometimes, encouraging others by saying “thank you” or “I’m proud of you” can be enough.
Praise others for getting involved and express your love to your family. Get creative, get involved, and have fun! For some ideas to start out with, refer to the activities below:
- Post about World Kindness Day on social media and encourage others to participate.
- Attend local fundraising events that support charities or community service centers.
- Personally, thank your children’s teachers and tell them to do the same.
- Get your family involved with a day of volunteering. This can look like an animal shelter, adopt-a-highway, or food shelf.
- Distribute blankets, food, or lightly used clothing to people who are homeless.
Acts of Kindness
Acts of kindness can range in complexity, but they never have to be more than opening a door for another person. If you want to participate in a larger act of kindness, you should try to engage your entire family. For now, here are simple and complex acts of kindness that the whole family can do:
- Write kind messages on post-it notes and leave them around for people to find
- Clean the entire house without your partner knowing about it
- Pick up litter around your community
- Volunteer at a local community service center (e.g., Animal Shelter)
- Clean an elderly person’s house
- Make a meal for someone who is sick, elderly, or grieving
- Offer to help a person with their project or homework
- Plant a tree
- Mail a letter to a person you haven’t talked to in a while
- Assist someone with their errands
Just as you show kindness to others, don’t forget to be kind to yourself as well. Here are ten ways to be kinder to yourself.
