2024 – Could it be our Kindness Era?

Happy New Year! As the calendar turns, it provides us an opportunity to start fresh and take a moment to reflect on the objectives or goals for our personal and professional lives. Last year, I used it as an opportunity to consider a "word” that might prompt me every day - and it was joy.

I made it an everyday choice to do things that brought great joy and am happy about the progress – and as an optimist, I was focused on finding “joy” even when times were challenging.

As we start 2024, I have a new "word" and focus - and that's on being “kind.” I believe we can all use more in our lives, and I wonder how collectively our well-being could be improved if kindness was contagious.

Being kind is more than simply being nice to others. It’s about showing empathy, compassion and understanding. It's about treating others the way we would like to be treated. And it's about recognizing we all have struggles and challenges, and that a little bit of kindness can go a long way.

I think we would all agree that kindness is a fundamental part of being a good human being. When we show kindness to others, we can create a ripple effect that can spread far beyond our immediate circle. We inspire others to be kind and we create a more positive and compassionate world, which is needed in what feels like increasingly stressful and divided times.

Here are some ways that we can all show kindness in our lives – and what I am personally striving to focus on this year:?

1. Listen actively: Take the time to really listen to others when they speak. Show that you care about their concerns and are willing to help if needed.
2. Show appreciation: Take time to recognize and thank teammates, friends and family for their contributions. Authentic praise — a simple "thank you” or a note of gratitude — can go a long way in boosting self-esteem and helping someone feel valued and appreciated.
3. Take time to help those around you: If you see someone struggling, offer to help. Even if you don't have all the answers, just offering to lend a hand can make a big difference.
4. Spread positivity: Focus on the good and spread positivity wherever you go. Compliment someone, share a wave or a smile. Small acts of kindness can make someone's day.
5. Have patience: Work to ease the frustration of little annoyances. As an example, you may be tempted to take to the horn when someone doesn’t start driving when the red light turns green or get frustrated when someone is late to a meeting, but let’s all have more understanding in the year ahead. Practice giving grace.

I’m often inspired by the kindness we see from Walmart and Sam’s Club associates every day as they serve our customers, members and partner with each other around the world. Their kindness shows when they’re not wearing their Walmart badge as well. There’s no better example than Flo Murphy, a frontline associate in Alabama.

Flo, who has been with our company for 20 years, has cared for 55 children as a foster parent since 2007. Two children she fostered, brothers, she eventually adopted after making a promise to their grandfather to raise them in a loving home for the rest of their lives. I hope you take a minute to read Flo’s story if you haven’t had the chance — it truly is a testament to the power of love and kindness.

While our focus and energy often go toward being kind to others, we can’t forget ourselves. We often fail to treat ourselves with the same kindness and compassion we show to others. But taking care of ourselves both physically and mentally is equally important and essential to our well-being.

As we begin a new year, I’m focused on being kind – to others and myself. I truly believe it can be a powerful force for good and plan to keep it at the forefront of my thoughts and actions. I encourage you to join me. If we can all show kindness to one another, it might just make all the difference in the world. #BeKind #Leadership