The Kindness Manifesto

Good evening, Master Toastmaster, fellow Toastmasters, and honored guests. Today, I want to share a topic that's often overlooked but profoundly impactful: kindness as a lifestyle.

Kindness is more than just a random act or a response to a specific situation. It's a way of life characterized by compassion, empathy, and generosity towards others. According to the blog entry, "Kindness 101: What Is Kindness and How Do You Teach It?" from the InspireKindness.com website, "Kindness goes beyond merely being nice. Think about it - would you prefer people to describe you to be "kind" or "nice?" There can be a lack of sincerity in being nice; there is often a perception of doing the minimum. Meanwhile, being kind is doing intentional, voluntary acts of kindness. Not only when it's easy to be kind, but when it's hard to be."

Kindness isn't just about making others feel good; it has scientifically proven benefits for both the giver and the receiver. Research shows that acts of kindness can reduce stress, boost happiness, and even strengthen the immune system. According to the American Psychiatric Association, a University of Ohio study showed that participating in acts of kindness helped individuals lessen depression by diverting their attention from themselves.

Kindness doesn't have to be grand gestures; even minor acts can have a significant impact. Whether holding the door for someone, offering a listening ear, or simply smiling at a stranger, every act of kindness contributes to a more positive and connected world. According to Leo Buscaglia, a professor, author, and motivational speaker who often spoke of love, "Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around."

Incorporating kindness into our daily routines doesn't require extra time or effort; it's about being mindful of our interactions with others. We can always find opportunities to be kind at work, school or in our communities.

I sometimes hesitate to show kindness due to fear, skepticism, or inconvenience. I often find myself restraining from offering a compliment to a woman for fear of the compliment being taken as an advance or misogynistic ideation. However, I hope to cultivate a mindset of kindness and empathy toward others by recognizing and challenging these barriers.

Why? Because one of the most beautiful aspects of kindness is its ripple effect. When we show kindness to others, it inspires them to do the same, creating a chain reaction of positivity that extends far beyond our initial actions. You have all heard of the "pay if forward movement" at drive-through places like Starbucks, where one driver pays for their drinks and those of the car behind them. According to Google, the Pay-it-Forward chains of hundreds of participants are detailed.

In researching this, I Googled "The Ripple Effect of Kindness". This produced many video entries from Philip Cowan, a musician whose career was restored by a series of kind acts from strangers to somewhat cheesy videos following people paying it forward.

In conclusion, kindness isn't just a random act; it's a conscious choice we make daily. By embracing kindness as a lifestyle, we improve our own lives, positively affect the lives of those around us and cultivate a more compassionate and connected world for all.

My challenge to you is just for tomorrow: be mindful of being kind. See if both your life and the lives of those you interact with benefit.?

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This will be my first speech to my newest return to Toastmasters. The goal is to research a topic, ostensibly one that I am not too familiar with. While I hope I am familiar with kindness, I used ChatGPT to create a presentation (which it took as a slide deck) on "kindness as a lifestyle."

While it came up with some interesting material, it didn't sound like me. It reminded me of when I was requested to give a commencement address to the graduating class at MSOE. As the Alumni Association President, this was expected of me. However, they gave me a prepared speech. I just couldn't do it. Reading someone else's words comes off feeling and sounding disingenuous.

I rewrote the speech in a more familiar language and tone.

I did the same with this, adding documented information gleaned from various Google searches. I am not done yet, but I wanted to get this out there. Please feel free to provide feedback - kindly, if you would