World Kindness Day is an international holiday celebrated in the United States, Italy, Australia, Japan, and many other countries every November 13. Its purpose is straightforward: to make room for kindness, to remind people that small compassionate acts matter, and to unify communities through shared decency. People and organizations pledge to do something kind that day, individually or in groups.
People and nations get divided every day. Most of us feel powerless to change that. But small acts of kindness, done consistently, do change the tone of a day, a workplace, or a neighborhood. That's the underlying point of World Kindness Day: celebrate kindness, do some of it, and inspire other people to do the same.
On World Kindness Day, people around the world create a chain reaction of compassion by performing random acts of kindness for the people around them, strangers included. You don't need to spend money. You need to do something nice for someone else. The goal is spreading kindness broadly enough that it becomes a shared habit rather than a one-day event.
History of World Kindness Day
World Kindness Day was first launched in 1998 by the World Kindness Movement. The organization was formed a year earlier at a 1997 conference in Tokyo. Twenty-eight nations sent representatives. The movement is not affiliated with any religion or political group. It was officially registered as an NGO under Swiss law in 2019.
The written declaration from the 1997 conference stated the pledge "to build a kinder and more compassionate world." That launched the first World Kindness Day observance in 1998. As stated by the World Kindness Movement, the day is meant "to highlight good deeds in the community focusing on the positive power and the common thread of kindness which binds us."
The observance has grown steadily. Concerts, dance mobs, and community distributions of kindness cards and t-shirts have become common. The World Kindness Movement continues to push for official recognition by the United Nations, which would place World Kindness Day alongside the International Day of Peace, Human Rights Day, and World Health Day.
How to Celebrate World Kindness Day
- Wear a kindness t-shirt. Take a photo and share it with the hashtag #WorldKindnessDay.
- Do random acts of kindness for strangers. Being kind doesn't have to cost money. Simple actions go a long way. Hold the door for an older person. Compliment a coworker. Send an encouraging text to five people on your contact list. Smile at people you pass.
- Appreciate the kind people already in your life. There are people who do quiet acts of kindness all year long. Tell them you noticed. It matters more than you think.
- Cook a meal for someone who needs one. A sick friend, a new parent, a neighbor going through something. If a full meal feels like too much lift, a small pantry-based drop-off (crackers, cheese, and a bowl of freshly mixed hummus) is more than enough. Our Pantry Picnic Basket guide covers the assembly if you want ideas.
- Volunteer at a shelter or family services organization. Donate food, toiletries, or clothes to families who need them.
- Hug someone. Send an uplifting message to someone who's been having a rough stretch.
- Build small acts of kindness into your daily routine. Let someone cut in front of you in traffic without honking. They might be having the worst day of their year.
Happy World Kindness Day from Mother Earth Products. Make your own list of small kind acts, or borrow from ours. Either way, do a few.
"The world is full of kind people. If you can't find one, be one." — Unknown
References
- https://www.awarenessdays.com/awareness-days-calendar/world-kindness-day-2021/
- https://nationaltoday.com/world-kindness-day/
- https://inspirekindness.com/blog/12-ways-to-participate-in-world-kindness-day-2021
- https://inspirekindness.com/blog/world-kindness-day-2021-your-complete-guide#h_150291441271570018428238