From the Archive
This article was originally issued in the Winter 2017 edition of the Ignis e-zine for ages 12-18
Orly Wahba is the founder of Life Vest Inside. In her TED Talk she talks about the magic of kindness. It reminds all of us that just small acts have a ripple effect that can be infectious. Her Kindness Youtube Video “Kindness Boomerang” has had more than 27 million views. Each year Life Vest Inside also runs a “Dance For Kindness”, a worldwide Flash Mob on World Kindness Day, November 12th https://www.danceforkindness.com/ you can find out more about Life Vest Inside at www.facebook.com/lifevestinside
The Kindness Calendar
Maybe you are a bit shy about dancing for kindness, or a little too afraid to hand out kindness cards. How about creating Kindness Calendars though? All too often we are focused on “getting”. Kindness calendars turn this around and base your days on giving. [See the example above by Young Reporter Francesca Glover]
The giving doesn’t have to be big. Often it is giving just a small amount of your time to someone, or even yourself. Think quick, easy and inexpensive but most of all think about how your actions have an effect on the people around you – think kindness. Then watch this video which explains the science of the effect kindness has on you.
Why not create a kindness calendar for yourself? If you enjoy it how about creating a kindness calendar for the entire year? Make the world a kinder place one day and one act at a time.
Links
Random Acts of Kindness https://www.randomactsofkindness.org/printables
Kindness Crew www.kindnesscrew.com.au/images/pdf/calendars/JC-AdventCal-A4-Family.pdf
https://www.awarenessdays.com/ So maybe it isn’t essential to know when it is National Katsu Curry Day (September 28th), and perhaps you’re not that keen to remind your parents that October is International Walk to School month, but how about Human Rights Day (December 10th) or Young Carers Awareness Day (January 26th)? Awareness Days UK is a website devoted to information about celebration of important days, if you want to know when to appreciate squirrels, have a smile day, support great causes, or have a fantastic Winnie The Pooh Day, and perhaps include it into your Kindness Calendar, then this is the website for you!
About the Author: Geraldine Glover is Potential Plus UK’s Community Information Coordinator. She is a Chartered Information Professional with a background in editorial work and information science. She is the mother of two children with high learning potential.
