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National Kindness Day

A Ripple That Starts With You

By Kim Lengling, Author, Podcaster, and Creator of “Nuggets of Hope”

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“Kindness doesn’t require perfection; it requires presence.”


Every November 13th, the world pauses for a moment to celebrate something simple yet powerful: kindness.


It doesn’t require money, fame, or grand gestures. You can find it in the smile offered to a stranger, the hand extended to help, or the kind word that softens a hard day. National Kindness Day serves as a gentle reminder that even the smallest actions can create the biggest ripples.


And sometimes, kindness finds us right when we need it most.


What kind act can you do on National Kindness Day? Or any other day, for that matter?


A Moment of Kindness

A few years ago, I was standing in line at a local coffee shop on one of “those” mornings, when the world feels heavy and your smile doesn’t quite reach your eyes.


I decided I needed to change my attitude. I turned to the woman standing behind me in line, smiled, and offered her a heartfelt “good morning.”


When I stepped up to the counter, I whispered to the barista that I would like to pay for the order of the woman behind me. “Just tell her I wanted to brighten someone’s day and keep whatever is left as your tip.”


That cup of coffee wasn’t a big deal to some, maybe just caffeine to others, but I like to think it was comforting-a reminder that someone cared about a stranger. It brought me comfort as well, pulling me out of my early morning internal griping session.


“The world is full of kind people. If you can’t find one, be one.” Author unknown

That’s the beautiful thing about kindness: it doesn’t end with you. It keeps going.


Why Kindness Matters

In a world that often feels divided, busy, or just plain tiring, kindness reconnects us. When we choose kindness, we remind one another that we all want the same things: to be seen, heard, and valued.


How You Can Make a Difference

You don’t need a spotlight or a stage to make an impact. You just need heart.

Why not start your own ripples of kindness? Here are a few ideas:


  • Send a note of encouragement to someone who’s been on your mind. Yes, handwritten. Old school. 😊

  • Hold the door for a stranger and share a genuine smile.

  • Pay for the next person’s coffee or meal; you never know whose day you’ll change.

  • Leave a kind note tucked inside a book at your local library. Donate to an animal shelter or bring treats for the neighborhood pets.

  • Compliment freely. Words are free and powerful.


Every small act makes a difference in your own slice of the world. Every gentle word, every kind gesture, every moment of grace is a Nugget of Hope in motion.


One Nugget of Hope at a Time

Kindness is contagious; it inspires others to join in and keep the momentum going.

That’s what inspired my book, Nuggets of Hope: Cultivate Kindness, a heartfelt collection of stories and reflections that prove hope can be found in the simplest of places.


And for all my fellow animal lovers, my newest eBook, 15 Ways Pets Teach Us Kindness, shares the everyday lessons our furry friends offer about patience, love, and the quiet power of just being present.


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Dexter’s Tail-Wagging Wisdom

Hey humans! Dexter here!

Mom says it’s National Kindness Day soon, and I say, That sounds like the best day ever! You know what I figured out? When you wag your tail (or your heart) at someone, they usually wag back.

So go out there and make somebody smile. Give a treat, give a hug, toss a toy, or share some quiet time. (Trust me, it works!)

Big tail wags, Dexter 🐾


A Final Thought

Kindness doesn’t have an expiration date. It doesn’t wait for perfect timing. It lives in the moments we choose to make someone’s day a little brighter.


So, this National Kindness Day, and every day after, let’s keep tossing out Nuggets of Hope, letting them land where they’re needed most.


Explore Kim’s books:





Feel free to use these hashtags when sharing across your platforms to reach kind-hearted readers and pet lovers just like you, everywhere:


 
 
 

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©2024 by Kim Lengling Author

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