I’m sure that most of us are kind, most of the time. However, it struck me yesterday that maybe we could all do better.
Someone was really quite unkind to me in an email and instead of ignoring or replying back in the nicest possible way, I was a little unkind in return. It made me feel good that I’d not let her beat me down – but I only felt good for a few seconds until I realised that all I’d done was reduce myself to her level. Then I felt terrible.
How often do I tell my children that we should never retaliate? And then I ended up doing it myself. One bad turn doesn’t deserve another.
So, my resolution for today is not to be unkind to anyone, even if they don’t follow the same philosophy.
Professor Robin Banerjee, head of psychology and director of Kindness Research at Sussex University, says. “There is a growing evidence base within psychology and other disciplines that kindness is positively associated with wellbeing, not just for those who receive it, but also for those who give it.”
Surely that’s enough of a reason?
But if not, remember that Caroline Flack was one of the pioneers of the #bekind movement and remember the horrifying consequence of the fact that people weren’t kind to her.
Perhaps we could all try one of these today?
50 random acts of kindness you can do today
Call a friend that you haven’t spoken to for a while
Send a letter to a grandparent
Send flowers to a friend
Offer to pick up some shopping for your elderly neighbour
Send someone a handwritten note
Offer to babysit for a friend
Walk your friend’s dog
Tell your family members how much you love and appreciate them
Help your parents with household chores
Help a friend get active
Make someone laugh
Offer to cook for a friend or family member
Make a cup of tea for a friend or family member
Help with a household chore at home or for a friend
Host an informal get-together and invite your neighbours to get to know each other
Tell someone you know that you are proud of them
Tell someone you know why you are thankful for them
Send a motivational text to a friend who is struggling
Send someone you know a joke to cheer them up
Send someone you know a picture of a cute animal
Send an inspirational quote to a friend
Send an interesting article to a friend
Put a surprise note or drawing on someone’s desk
Contact someone you haven’t seen in a while and arrange to meet face-to-face
Engage in conversation with a shop assistant when paying at the till
Spend time playing with your pet
Sign up to do voluntary work in your local community
Reach out to spend time with a friend, family member or neighbour who is experiencing loneliness
Have a clear-out and take items to a charity shop
Make and send a care package to someone who needs it
Make a donation to a charity
Offer to pick up a friend or family member from work
Make a cup of tea for your colleagues
Get to know the new staff member
Lend your ear - listen to your colleague who is having a bad day
Say good morning
Bake a cake for your colleagues
Give praise to your colleague for something they’ve done well
If it’s raining – lend someone your umbrella
Take someone out for lunch instead of eating at your desk
Give up your seat to an elderly, disabled or pregnant person
Let someone jump the queue at the supermarket
Take a minute to help someone who is lost
Have a conversation with someone who is experiencing homelessness
Help a mother carrying her pushchair down the stairs or hold the door for her
Let a fellow driver merge into your lane
Pick up some rubbish lying around in the street
Smile and say hello to people you may pass every day but have never spoken to before
Return a lost item to its owner
Pop into a coffee shop and ask to pay for a coffee for them to give to someone later that day for free
