When was the last time you were surprised by someone’s kindness?
I’m guessing at least some of the people in your life are kind to you on a regular basis. Or, at least, I hope that they are. But maybe their kindness feels commonplace because it’s made up of lots of little things that they do often… like asking if you want a cup of coffee when they’re getting their own, or saying, “I love you” in that rote way we do before hanging up the phone.
It is important to acknowledge and appreciate small gestures. But there’s something about an unexpected act of kindness that can jolt us awake from the trance of daily living and make us feel seen, valued, and loved.
I’ve been reflecting on kindness a lot lately since revisiting Brad Aronson’s book HumanKind This is a kind act in and of itself, as all royalties from the book go to Big Brothers Big Sisters.
The book shares some truly inspiring stories about kindness and its impacts, and it’s full of simple but powerful ideas to make a positive impact in someone’s life.
It’s the kind of book that makes you want to stop whatever you’re doing and find some way to help someone else, whether that means encouraging…
