November 13 marked the annual celebration of World Kindness Day.  The international holiday highlights the importance of spreading compassion within local and global communities but sparks the question of why the world does not encourage empathy every day.  While the celebration only occurs once a year, its underlying message regarding the importance of large and small acts of kindness should translate into daily life.

Kindness goes beyond doing good deeds that may convey a lack of sincerity.  Behaving in a kind manner should involve genuine voluntary acts of service, compassion, and generosity.  World Kindness Day strives to highlight the importance of empathy and attempts to diminish conflict around the globe.  However, an assigned day that promotes kindness furthers the misconception that compassion is a chore rather than an innate practice.  

Although it is important to be aware of international issues and violence, not everyone can work directly to settle these conflicts.  It is important to begin by tackling smaller initiatives that impact local communities rather than attempting to address large-scale global conflicts.  Proponents of World Kindness Day hope to address these broader issues by resolving local concerns within smaller populations, according to theworldkindnessmovement.org.

Although the World Kindness Movement focuses on just one day of the year, its efforts do not imply that there is an absence of kindness on any other day.  Instead, the annual celebration serves as a reminder to all that simple acts of kindness have immense influence.  Together, schools, communities, and towns can all do their part to create a kinder world.

The Sacred Heart Greenwich community follows similar principles to tackle more significant issues through small acts of kindness.  Starting this November, the Class of 2024 implemented a monthly kindness challenge that correlates to the student government’s academic year theme, Ohana.

While focusing on spreading kindness in a school environment, the sophomore student council introduced the November Kindness Challenge.  After completing a random act of kindness, students write the deed down on a sticky note.  The student council displays each note on the class bulletin board.  By the end of November, the student council hopes the board will be filled with post-it notes, each one making a small but empowering difference in the community.

Along with the Class of 2024’s kindness challenge, Upper School students have the opportunity to anonymously compliment their peers.  These compliments honor students and faculty who excel in making Sacred Heart a kinder place and shine a light on their compassionate actions.  Senior Charlotte Fallon, Executive Board Vice President, reflected on this long-standing tradition.

“I think Compliment Tuesday is a great way to promote kindness in our school community because it serves as a way to recognize the unsung heroes of the Upper school every week,” Charlotte said. “I hope to continue to bond our high school community and make students feel appreciated and connected through these anonymously written compliments, recognizing the talents and successes of their peers.”

Both large and small acts of kindness accomplish a greater mission of bridging the gap between people and nations.  Even though small acts of kindness do not seem to have a global impact, local communities bind the world together.  It may seem unnecessary to dedicate one day to honor kindness, however, there is no limit to how kind one can act towards another.  No matter how big or small the deed, every act of kindness contributes to a greater mission of changing the world.

Featured Image by Ana Patricio ’24