Share Kindness: World Kindness Week Matters

Share Kindness:

World Kindness Week Matters

If you turn on the news outlet it’s pretty easy to agree that we need more kindness in this world. A little bit of kindness can bring big change. Kindness has been proven to increase our happiness, reduce stress and improve emotional well-being. At the same time, spreading kindness offers us the opportunity to connect with others, building a stronger sense of community and unity with friends, family, neighbors and even strangers.

Kindness is choosing to do something that helps others or yourself, motivated by genuine warm feelings. Kindness, or doing good, often means putting other people’s needs before our own. It could be by giving up our seat on a bus to someone who might need it more, or even offering to make a cup of tea for someone at work.

Kindness comes alongside all kinds of health benefits. We know, for instance, that when we carry out an act of kindness for another person, the brain’s pleasure and reward center lights up. And that the brain releases serotonin, the feel-good hormone which has a calming effect and stimulates positive feelings in the body. Evidence shows that helping others can also benefit our own mental health and well-being. For example, it can reduce stress as well as improve mood, self-esteem and happiness.

This week WeShare in celebrating World Kindness Week and encourage you to do the same!

"Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience."

– Colossians 3:12

The History of World Kindness Week

In 1998, the World Kindness Movement launched the first World Kindness Day. Over 28 nations are involved in the World Kindness Movement. Through the years, World Kindness Day evolved into an entire week of kindness. World Kindness Week is celebrated during the second week of November, beginning on Monday, and ending on Sunday. The week incorporates World Kindness Day, which is held annually on November 13th.

During this week we attempt to make the world a better place by celebrating and promoting good deeds and pledging acts of kindness, either as individuals or as organizations.

The purpose of World Kindness Day is to highlight and encourage good deeds in your community. It also serves as a reminder that simple acts of kindness have power and that together, we can all work to create a kinder world. You may wonder how compassion from one person can make a difference. Every kind act, even the smallest one, creates a ripple effect you can’t begin to imagine. The World Kindness Movement and World Kindness Day are meant to inspire you to believe that we can make a global difference one act at a time.

On World Kindness Day, groups and individual people are encouraged to go out of their way to be kind to others, whether that be at home, work, school, or just out in public.

We celebrate by pledging to do at least one intentional act of kindness on that day to benefit someone else. It can be as straightforward or as involved as you like. No matter what you decide to do, your act of kindness will unite you with others dedicated to changing the world one kind act at a time.

This week is also meant to celebrate and encourage the good deeds that others already do. For World Kindness week, be sure to let others around you know how much you appreciate their kindness and generosity. Sometimes saying, “thank you,” is one of the kindest things you can do and probably isn’t heard as often as you’d think!

WeShare Kindness in our Community

Yolanda Origel of Cancer Kinship

WeShare and our whole community is proud to share in Cancer Kinship’s “Brave, Bold, & Boundless Fashion Show,” Sunday, November 20, 2022, between 5:00 PM and 9:00 PM.

Event Director and Executive Director of Cancer Kinship, Yolanda Origel is an amazing survivor herself, and works tirelessly to bring fellowship, connection, and community to cancer patients in active treatment, as well as the survivor and thriver community.

Cancer Kinship empowers courageous cancer warriors through sharing their stories, connecting in community, and through life-long friendships and support.

Join the fun this Sunday or donate directly to make a difference, today!

WeShare in Christmas at KidWorks:

For many of the central Santa Ana families KidWorks serves, being able to purchase Christmas gifts is often not financially possible. Their limited funds go to everyday essentials. Help us to brighten the holidays for those that need it most, helping to promote a tradition of Christmas smiles lasting over two decades!

WeShare in support, we also appreciate the added connection and care through Ignite YLP, which is facilitated through KidWorks. Interested in making a difference?

Please visit the KidWorks Christmas Store or contact KidWorks directly via email: [email protected]

Celebrate World Kindness Week

So how can you celebrate World Kindness week? There are so many ways to help others as part of our everyday lives. Good deeds needn’t take much time or cost any money. WeShare some ways to for you to celebrate and spread kindness:

• Hand out notes of encouragement wherever you go, including the grocery store, coffee shop, etc.
• Offer to do an errand for someone like walking their dog or helping them with groceries.
• Cook dinner for a friend or neighbor and bring it to their home.
• Give notes of appreciation to family members, coworkers, and service providers.
• Pay for the coffee or meal of the person behind you at a coffee shop or at the drive-thru.
• Give someone, or several people, a hug.
• Encourage others to be kind.
• Volunteer for a local community organization.
• Offer your expertise and support as a mentor for those who are struggling.
• See if there’s anything you can do to support your children’s school or retirement home – offer to read stories for example.
• Involve your friends and neighbors in community projects.
• Offer to skill-share with a friend - you could teach guitar, dance or a new recipe.
• Call a friend that you haven’t spoken to for a while.
• Tell a family member how much you love and appreciate them.
• Offer a listening ear to someone who simply wants to talk.

Don’t Forget to be Kind to Yourself!

When it comes to being kind, we need to remember to extend this same courtesy to ourselves. Too often we can be our own worst critic. We, more than anyone else in this world, deserve to give ourselves the same loving kindness we extend to others.

Here are some examples of how to be kind to yourself:

• Recite words of affirmation or speak kindly to yourself daily.
• Prioritize some time, so you can relax and think about how you’re feeling and how your day or week has been so far.
• Tune out of our social media channels for a day, or even a week.
• Treat yourself to something. It doesn't have to be a big thing. Remember, good things come in small packages.
• Do something you enjoy, like listening to a favorite song or dancing in your kitchen.
• Spend some time with nature. It's great for our mental health.

We must practice kindness with ourselves because self-kindness is an essential component of good mental health. According to Kristen Neff, a psychologist who has spent years researching and studying the benefits of self-compassion, those who are self-compassionate are, “Less likely to be critical of themselves and less likely to be anxious and depressed, which, in turn, leads to greater life satisfaction.”

Here are some additional tips for how to practice self-love and kindness.

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