9 Ways to Celebrate World Kindness Day
By: Kamrin Baker
Between the “Be Kind” graphic T-shirts in every department store and Harry Styles crooning his signature reminder to “Treat People With Kindness,” the concept of kindness is rather trendy in our current climate.
But kindness goes beyond a fleeting trend or a singular act; it’s a lifestyle and mindset shift that implores us to meet the world — and each other — with greater empathy and justice.
Kindness asks us to extend our approach beyond niceties and good manners, and into transformative action, compassionate and intentional inclusion, and empowering solutions.
Kindness is a choice, a muscle we all flex, and could frankly use a little more of our attention.
World Kindness Day — which takes place every year on November 13 — is a great opportunity to deepen our relationship with kindness and connect with one another in new and exciting ways.
We’ve compiled some ideas to help you celebrate World Kindness Day and World Kindness Week.
By the way, some of the links in this article (like books!) are affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase after clicking a link, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you!
What is World Kindness Day?
World Kindness Day is an international holiday first introduced in 1998 by the World Kindness Movement. The holiday is devoted to promoting kindness throughout the world, understanding the positive potential of large and small acts of kindness, and unifying together as human beings.
Activities To Celebrate World Kindness Day —
Learn
Learn about the science of kindness.
There is real science about the power of being kind. In fact, research even suggests that doing good for others is contagious. Now that’s a virus we can get behind!
Learn a little more about the science behind kindness and then apply what you’ve learned to the relationships and situations in your life. Here are a few resources to get you started:
- The Science of Kindness by the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation
- The Bystander Effect Experiment as part of Participant’s “Science of Empathy” series
Read a book about kindness.
Whether you’re shopping picture books for your kiddo or doing your own reading, there are loads of incredible books out there that teach us more about being kind to one another.
Check out some our recommendations:
- “The Power of Kindness: The Unexpected Benefits of Leading a Compassionate Life” by Piero Ferrucci | Read on Amazon | Read on Bookshop | Listen on Libro.fm
- “Be Kind” by the Dalai Lama | Read on Amazon | Read on Bookshop
- “Deep Kindness: A Revolutionary Guide for the Way We Think, Talk, and Act in Kindness” By Houston Kraft | Read on Amazon | Read on Bookshop | Listen on Libro.fm
- “The War for Kindness: Building Empathy in a Fractured World” by Jamil Zaki | Read on Amazon | Read on Bookshop | Listen on Libro.fm
Listen to a talk or a podcast about kindness.
Would you rather get your kindness info in audio format? We’ve got you covered!
Here are a few amazing talks and podcasts about kindness to add to your queue:
- “Maia & Alex Shibutani — Taking Kindness to the Olympics” on Sounds Good
- “Orly Wahba — Using Kindness to Empower Others” on Sounds Good
- “Kindness Legacy: How Small Acts of Kindness Create Global Impact” by Denise Walker for TEDxWhite Rock
- “James Rhee on Kindness, Math, and the Power of Goodwill” on Dare to Lead with Brené Brown
- “The Power of Kindness” by Raegan Hill for TEDxDeerfield
