World Kindness Day: Because Who Doesn’t Love A Bit of Warm Fuzziness?
November 13—mark it down, folks! It’s World Kindness Day, a splendid occasion to shove aside our phones and actually do something good. You know, like offering your seat to someone on public transport instead of pretending to be deeply engrossed in your screen. It’s a day dedicated to the beautiful notion of kindness, where you can unleash your inner teddy bear and boost your karma like it’s a Black Friday sale.
Now, a bit of history for those of you who politely nod along as you pretend to be interested. This lovely day was born back in 1997 thanks to the World Kindness Movement, a group of volunteers in Japan who clearly didn’t get the memo that kindness was considered a lost art. They started something that would eventually spread to 28 countries. Yep, that’s right, 28 countries where people are actually encouraged to do good deeds. Who knew?
A Background Check—But Not the Creepy Kind!
In 1998, they had their shiny first conference in Tokyo. How did that go? Picture a room full of people nodding and smiling—most likely way more upbeat than a room full of politicians! By November 18, 2000, this whole kindness gig officially got stamped as World Kindness Day at the 3rd Conference in Singapore. Who knew kindness needed a conference? I mean, aren’t we all just one cup of coffee away from being nice?
Kindness: The Gift That Keeps on Giving
So why should you care? Well, studies have shown that individuals who engage in daily good deeds tend to have better immunity. It’s like your body is saying, “Thanks for being nice, here’s a little serotonin as a reward!” Those feeling-good chemicals help combat stress and make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. It’s basically science backing the idea that being nice is actually good for you—who would’ve thought it would be a prescription for better health?
- Let’s talk about symbols of kindness. One prominent one is the dandelion. Yes, you heard that right—the humble dandelion! It’s not just weeds; they also symbolize peace. If that’s not a heartwarming metaphor for kindness, I don’t know what is!
- And here’s a fun tidbit: giving flowers on this day is supposed to make the world brighter. Think of it as Tinder, but instead of swiping right, you give flowers to strangers and hope they won’t run away screaming. In Singapore, they fancy giving gerberas and daisies—clearly a step up from half-dead roses from last Valentine’s Day!
- We’ve got to teach the younger generation about kindness too! Organizing kindness days in schools is vital. Teach them early so they grow up not just scrolling past social media posts about kindness, but living it. Imagine kids doing flashmob hugs—that’s adorably cringe-worthy!
Kindness and Animals—Don’t Forget the Furry Friends!
Why limit your sunshine to just humans? Animals need kindness too! They can’t reciprocate with a hug, but trust me, showing compassion to the furry ones goes a long way. If they could, they’d probably throw a thank-you party—just don’t expect them to handle the catering.
In Conclusion—Go On, Be Kind!
On this World Kindness Day, whether you choose to give flowers, a compliment, or even just a smile, remember there’s nothing cheesy about spreading kindness. It’s a refreshing dip in the pool of good deeds that could, just possibly, make the world a little less of a mess. So, roll up your sleeves, wear that kindness like a badge of honor, and let’s make it an everyday affair—not just one day a year. After all, if we can’t be nice to each other, what’s the point? Kindness is contagious, and let’s just say—it’s an epidemic we would like to encourage!
World Kindness Day
World Kindness Day (World Kindness Day) is an international day celebrated annually November 13. Kindness Day is a great opportunity to find time to do good deeds for people and animals. Goodness will save the world and unite nations, because it is inherent in human nature, that is why everyone can do good deeds. Doing good is not difficult at all, but as a result, people will be filled with compassion and kindness towards each other.
Kindness Day dates back to 1997, when the volunteer “World Kindness Movement” (World Kindness Movement) was created in Japan, which had no religious or political direction. Initially, it included only representatives of the Pacific region, but later the geography was significantly expanded.
On November 13, 1998, the first conference of the World Movement of Kindness opened in Tokyo, and this date was reserved for the annual celebration. But the World Kindness Day was officially established on November 18, 2000 at the 3rd Conference of the Kindness Movement in Singapore.
Today, this bright day is celebrated in 28 countries, on all continents. The USA, Canada, Japan, France, Italy, India, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nepal, Nigeria, South Korea, Singapore, Great Britain, UAE are participating in the celebration; every year the list of countries is updated. Unfortunately, there is no data on the official celebration in Ukraine, but this does not prevent us from spreading a good tradition and doing good deeds.
- People who do good deeds every day have better immunity and get sick less often. Doctors explain this by an increase in the level of lymphocytes and the expansion of blood vessels, which improves the work of the heart. They also recorded an increase in the level of serotonin and endorphins, which help to cope with stress faster.
- An open heart is a symbol of kindness. It was created by the French artist Orel for the Day of Kindness.
- We must learn to do good deeds. The difficulty lies in the fact that one should not expect a reward for one’s actions, they should give pleasure in themselves. It is necessary to convey to your child that good can return not through the person to whom it was originally directed.
- Kindness should be directed not only to humans, but also to animals, which often suffer from human cruelty.
- Another symbol of kindness and peace is the dandelion. Sculptures depicting this flower are installed in 30 countries of the world.
Over the years of its existence, the Day of Kindness has had its own traditions and symbols.
