by Amni Azizan
Edited by Nik Liyana and Harith Syafiee
“Three things in human life are important: the first is to be kind; the second is to be kind, and the third is to be kind.” - Henry James -
It’s safe to say that not many know about World Kindness Day. But, surprise surprise! There’s actually a specific day to celebrate kindness. Annually celebrated on 13th of November, World Kindness Day emphasises kindness as the bond that unites us. Launched in Singapore in 2000, it was introduced by the World Kindness Movement which spans over 28 countries. In conjunction with the World Kindness Day, we’re going to list out ways to be kind to each other. While the list may seem simple, you can go way beyond the list and do other things as long as your intentions are sincere and it is within your capabilities. Sometimes, the simplest act of kindness can make a huge difference to someone's day whether you realise it or not.
Quality Time
To begin with, quality time is one of the ways to be kind. To clarify, quality time means that you spend time doing some activities with someone else, no matter who. It can range from your closest family member to someone you are just starting to get to know. If you are an introverted person, you can spend quality time with only one person to create a deeper bond. For someone who prefers a huge group, consider activities that can be done with everyone such as cooking together, going on a shopping trip, bowling, and doing an escape room. Thus, spending time with others will strengthen the bond you have with people and you get to have fun too.
Random Acts of Kindness
Just like the title suggests, they are acts that are considered nice and thoughtful to others. The idea behind random acts of kindness is to do something that does not require a grand plan, you only need a little bit of effort. Moreover, everyone is encouraged to do anything that equates to kindness whenever they can as it does not only make you feel good, but also to the person you are being kind to as well. Random acts of kindness could be as simple as complimenting someone, calling your grandparents (who live far from you), or it could be giving a small change to the person in front of the line. Random acts of kindness can make others’ day better due to the kindness that eases their burden.
Be Nicer to Yourself
Who says that you have to act kind to only others? Of course, you have to be kind to yourself too! You might be wondering why. The answer is simple. You have done everything in your power to make sure the people around you are well taken care of and in good hands. So, you need to be nicer to yourself too by having your own me-time. Your me-time could vary as everyone has their own preference. One might prefer a good book in their hands or watching a comfort movie as well as playing games. Thus, it is vital that everyone knows that being kind does not only apply to being nice to others but to yourself as well.
World Kindness Day reminds us that simple acts of kindness can create a kinder world, and every act, even the smallest, can have a ripple effect, inspiring us to believe in making a global difference.
Plus, in Islamic perspective, as narrated by At-Tirmidhi; the Prophet says to Anas Ibnu Malik: “…Try to pass your mornings and evenings in a state where your heart is free from all ill-feelings, jealousy and hatred for everyone, and remember that this is my Sunnah, and he who loves my Sunnah will be with me in paradise.”
Based on the hadith above, it clearly shows that being nice to one another will lead to a society that is compassionate and thoughtful to each other.
Therefore, on World Kindness Day, tell everyone around you how much you appreciate their generosity and kindness. Saying "thank you" or smiling at someone is one of the sweetest things you can do and is probably not done as often as you'd imagine!
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