Asha Curran gave examples of some kind heroes who give to others without expecting anything back but love. She mentioned an Indian shop owner who gives away food every Tuesday, an African American girl who gives menstrual products to those in need, but I think she forgot to mention you. Yes, you! The person reading this. You are capable of giving love as much as you have received it. You gave love even in your worst moments, you gave kindness even if it slightly inconvenienced you, and you gave warmth to those who needed it most. 

In fact, you can go further to help those in need, especially with what is happening currently in Palestine, Sudan, Congo and Yemen by spreading information. By doing just that, you can help spread awareness and push others to spread it too. I understand the state of the economy we are in now, which is why the least you can do as a kind soul is to spread awareness about these issues. You never know when one day, they will return the favour when you are in a dire situation too. Kindness is infectious and it is often remembered by those who have received it. 

You can spread information on social media platforms, join protests or verbally spreading the news to everyone. While these may seem radical, Asha Curran explains that radical simply means ‘from the root’. We are creating roots that can stem into something bigger and better. There is no wrong in informing others of an unfair war upon a people. You are bigger than the person you think you are, so live up to your best potential by using the love you have received to spread to others. Fighting for others means fighting for yourself and your future.

This may be overwhelming for those who are also in dire situations, so it is important to be kind to yourself too. To give love, you must receive it first. Take breaks and remember to not take anything for granted. You can voice out your worries to others if they are willing to listen, or you can give yourself a small retreat by simply relaxing. We must also learn to receive kindness as a reminder that we must give too. 

Giving kindness is making a change. You are capable of making change. Nobody is born in hate, instead we were taught it. Return to your roots and be kind.

by: Dayana Nurina binti Mohd Hafizul, 213575

Generosity is an action of kindness whose core lies in unselfishness. Being generous means feeling happy and content with giving money, food, or kindness to people in need. It could be anyone—colleagues, strangers, poor people, and even our own family and friends—who would benefit from our generosity. As something as small as generosity, we as a society underestimated the significant influence of tiny acts of kindness that can transform our world, which is full of big gestures and ambitious projects.

However, as GivingTuesday CEO Asha Curran so beautifully put it in her TED Talk, these little choices are the cornerstone of radical generosity and have the capacity to reshape our society and the entire planet.

In 2012, a global movement ignited by simple acts led people all around the world to come up with the idea of dedicating a day to giving, harnessing the reach of social media to inspire people globally to be generous. Giving Tuesday started out as a test but soon spread around the globe. Asha remembers being first taken aback by how broadly and profoundly the concept struck a chord. Families, schools, houses of worship, and nonprofit organisations came together with passion and enthusiasm. "I'm not rich; I don't have a million dollars, but on GivingTuesday, I can help change lives," one participant said. This statement perfectly encapsulated the spirit of the movement: generosity is more about the purpose behind a gift than its size.

In Malaysia, generosity thrives through diverse initiatives. During Ramadan, Malaysians organise "buka puasa" events, providing free meals to those in need. The #KitaJagaKita movement, initiated during the COVID-19 pandemic, saw citizens deliver groceries and essentials to vulnerable communities. The Malaysian Food Bank Organisation collects surplus food from businesses to distribute to the hungry. Additionally, during festive seasons like Hari Raya and Chinese New Year, many Malaysians donate to charities and offer "duit raya" (festive money) to the less fortunate, embodying the spirit of sharing and community support. These acts highlight Malaysia's strong culture of compassion and mutual aid.

However, it is a constant question of why generosity matters. Generosity is a quality that affects our actions, and it is a gesture that is widely appreciated by others. Do not think generosity is not having an impact on the world. This error in judgement may keep us from being more giving all the time. Furthermore, we could see deeds of compassion as extra stress in our busy lives. But studies reveal that kindness improves wellbeing, reduces stress, and cultivates happiness and hope. Paying for someone else's coffee is a simple gesture that can lift our spirits for the entire day.

Lives can be transformed through generosity. Not all generous action makes it to the headline; however, a person doing a little help, such as donating to people in Gaza who are facing genocide, joining food bank programmes that distribute food supplies to those who are unfortunate, or helping a friend who is struggling in their life, is equally transformative. These ordinary acts of giving remind us that generosity is not a burden but a gift, an antidote to fear, anxiety, loneliness, and isolation. By embracing radical generosity, we can collectively build a more joyful, equitable, and peaceful future.

by: Rathika Sagar 211819 (538 words)

References

"Generosity." Vocabulary.com Dictionary, Vocabulary.com, https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/generosity. Accessed 14 May. 2024.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2021/09/728751/kita-jaga-kita-not-just-phrase

https://foodbankmalaysia.com/

Have you ever felt small, like any of your fleeting decisions would not have an impact on the world? Have you ever felt like anything you do would not matter in the greater scheme of the universe, because you are just one speck of dot in the entire world? Despite how overwhelming our self-negativity can be, there is always something we can do to help the people around us, intentional or not. Your one act of kindness might be just the thing that helps the world go round. 

We live in a community, where everybody unknowingly needs someone else to survive. Nobody can ever truly make it anywhere alone without having to credit someone else for their kindness. The truth is, as long as you try your best to be kind to people, that one small act of kindness will go a long way. I have lost count of how much I owe it to the strangers who were nice to me when I needed them to be. The old couple who gave me bandaids, bought me slippers, and called me a taxi back home as I cried to them in 2022. The Indian lady who let me and my friends enter the public bathroom anyway last weekend, because all of us do not carry coins in our wallet anymore, seeing how desperate we were. The kind stranger who paid for our meals at the mamak in front of my house at 2 a.m., seeing how hungry we were wolfing down our food. 

The truth is, I owe it all to the kind strangers in my life. Without them, I would have not made it this far. 

In Asha Curran’s TedTalk speech, she used Giving Tuesday as the prime example of a generosity movement. In my community, we have events such as Food Not Bombs and Really Really Free Market. Food Not Bombs is a weekly soup kitchen where volunteers would dumpster dive around town for edible produce, and cook together for the homeless people. We would also conduct free life-skills workshops for the homeless people to help them survive. Really Really Free Market is a community garage sale where, as the name suggests, where everything is really really free — where people can give up any unwanted material possessions or even their services, as an anti-capitalistic way for people to give back to society, unmediated by commerce. This was also done in an effort towards sustainability, avoiding rubbish from ending up in the landfills.

When talking to these people in my community that I admire so much, I realised how they are perfectly content with helping people without even getting paid. In fact, they refuse help in the form of financial support. They just want people to participate in the soup kitchen with them, getting together as a community to help other people in need. This communal, joint effort is what makes me happy to be part of a community.

As much as I owe it to the kind strangers around me, I want to be the kind stranger in someone else’s life, too. 

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The objective of this writing is to raise awareness about the importance of kindness and encourage participation in acts of generosity. Curran's inclusive message, "everyone has something to give," underscores that every contribution, no matter how small, is valuable.

Curran eloquently states, "Kindness is the most powerful force in the universe." This sentiment rings true as we delve into the essence of kindness and its ability to create a ripple effect. Small gestures, like a smile or a helping hand, can snowball into significant movements, illustrating the butterfly effect of compassion. As Curran shares, "When we show up for each other, even in small ways, it changes the world."

The power of collective action in fostering a culture of empathy and solidarity is undeniable. Curran's talk emphasizes the role of communities in driving positive change through kindness. By uniting under a common cause, individuals can amplify their impact and create lasting transformations. As Curran notes, "When we come together, we can do anything."

Individual acts of kindness can also catalyze systemic changes, challenging societal norms and values. Curran's examples showcase how small acts can inspire others, creating a domino effect of compassion. She reminds us, "Kindness is contagious. When we see it, we want to do it."

In conclusion, the enduring impact of kindness in shaping a more compassionate world is undeniable. Asha Curran's TED Talk serves as a powerful reminder of the transformative potential of small acts of kindness. By embracing this message and incorporating it into our daily lives, we can collectively create a world where empathy, solidarity, and compassion are the driving forces behind progress and unity. As Curran eloquently states, "Kindness is the most powerful force in the universe. Let's unleash it."

by: Nurul Ain Binti Abdullah (212881)

Acts of kindness serve as a light of hope and solidarity in a world where headlines of strife and division frequently dominate the news. Giving Tuesday is one such light that has become an international phenomenon, a day devoted to kindness and giving back. Asha Curran, a visionary who has assisted in transforming a straightforward concept into a global call to action, is at the center of this movement.

Generosity is a gift, or blessing for unfortunate people to change that person’s day or life. Now imagine every single person in this entire world is being generous to each other. Millions of lives would change. “Every act of kindness can affect three or more degrees removed from them”(Curran A.,how acts of kindness sparked a global movement).

The downhill is a lot of underestimating our own generous actions. We underestimate the effect our generosity brings. Everyone starts from somewhere even though it is small. So, our actions might be the tiniest, but the tiniest is the biggest for them. Why do we underestimate ourselves? 

“Our small help is not going to help a lot”. That we shall not decide for them. We shall decide to give and they shall decide for us. 

One of the small benefits of being kind is accessibility. You can do it from anywhere or to anyone. It's not necessary to be powerful or affluent to change the world. Little deeds like paying for a stranger's coffee, holding a door open for them, or sending a kind letter can have a domino effect and encourage others to follow suit.

Despite their apparent insignificance, these actions can have a major effect on the recipients. Asha Curran frequently highlights the significance of these tiny acts. They promote a feeling of connection and community, which are essential in the dispersed world of today. People are more likely to spread compassion when they are made to feel acknowledged and appreciated, starting a positive domino effect.

Everyone is on social media now. Everything is on our fingertips. A key instrument for spreading kindness in our interconnected world is social media. Social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter allow users to share their acts of kindness, inspiring others and promoting a sense of global unity. Consider the genocide onslaught that is happening right now. "Why would a nation bother aiding another nation when they have their own government, leader, organization, and ability to come up with solutions?" They are in trouble, and whether I am wealthy or not, big or tiny, I will help to soothe their troubles. 

By : Jananie Selvam 210975

Kindness is hypothetically like a ‘bento’ or lunch box. It comes together with the quality of friendliness, love, caring and many more positive traits one can have. In this world nowadays that is rife with conflict and war, it is refreshing to see people being kind to each other. The pure generosity that keeps on expanding throughout the world can saves lives of others. For example, according to the UN website, UNRWA launched its annual Ramadan campaign to provide emergency food aid to Gaza. And this aid is funded by people al around the world through online donation. Despite our differences, this act of kindness reminds us that we all share a common humanity.

Still, it is also vital to remember that kindness does not equal money. Nowadays, millionaires and famous celebrities are being idolized so much to the point that we are brainwashed that being rich is everything. However, it’s not. In fact, to do kindness does not have to involve money all the time. Helping a blind person to cross the road or giving a jacket to the person in need during winter season are examples of being kind to each other. In fact, smiling which is the simplest human can do is also part of kindness. Often, we see here in Malaysia, those who are struggling to survive are also those who tend to be kind to others. The uncles and aunties selling nasi lemak would always give extra to their regular customers or students. The guard at the college entry gate would always shout happily ‘Selamat pagi! (good morning)’ to any cars passing by, making the whole day feels easier and better. Thus, not being a millionaire is not an excuse to not be kind to each other.  As proven from the generous people around us, there are so many ways we can be kind.

When one person performs a kind act, it inspires others to do so. This is because generosity creates bridges between our worlds. We might be born and raised in different culture and background, but being kind to each other, we are able to create love and understanding towards everyone despite different status and beliefs. Community groups or workplace can encourage the culture of kindness to strengthen then bond created.

Though it might feel daunting sometimes to practice kindness in the hustle and bustle of daily life, it is already proven that an act of kindness is actually very simple and practical. Thus, do not think that being kind requires too much money, time or energy. Change the mindset because even ordinary acts of giving are genuinely extraordinary.

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For the first time in weeks, UN aid teams reach Gaza City. (2024, March 14). UN News. https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/03/1147482#:~:text=Amid%20the%20humanitarian%20crisis%2C%20UNRWA,Strip%20who%20are%20facing%20starvation.

by: Adryna Amni Rickieno (210848)

"Have you ever had a bad day, but the dark cloud around your head faded when someone smiled at you?"

Have you ever been stuck and unable to push the door because your hands were full of groceries, and then someone came up and helped you press and hold the door so you could get out? It is incredible to know that a stranger can help us by giving us a small gesture, and it can also turn our day from a bad day to a smooth one. According to Asha Curran, the CEO of the Giving Tuesday movement, generosity is not a burden but a gift. So, as someone who lives in a world with many types of people, we can be the kind one. Our small actions can change someone’s bad day to a good one. Not only that, we also can be someone who changes the world and turn it to encourage other people to be kind to others. In addition, we can show our kindness to animals; many stray cats and dogs are struggling to survive in the streets and need to fight for their life with other creatures. We can show our kindness to them by giving them food and water and offering them a place to stay; we can place them in a safe shelter that the community has created. According to the research, The findings suggest mutual connections exist between gratitude, subjective happiness, and strong social relationships. As a result, happy individuals, unlike those who are unhappy, report having close, fulfilling relationships and experiencing more gratitude. While gratitude arises from receiving kindness from others, kindness involves performing kind acts towards others. We anticipated that, alongside the impact of appreciation, the extent of kindness would significantly contribute to enhancingenhance subjective happiness. (Otake et al., 2006). So, to earn happiness, we can use our gratitude to other people. With this writing, I hope everyone can understand that kindness is not something we can forget to include in ourselves because our kindness towards others can help them feel that the world is not that bad. Also, showing kindness can help our inner heal and make us happier.

OTAKE, K., SHIMAI, S., TANAKA-MATSUMI, J., OTSUI, K., & FREDRICKSON, B. L. (2006). HAPPY PEOPLE BECOME HAPPIER THROUGH KINDNESS: A COUNTING KINDNESSES INTERVENTION. Journal—Journalpiness Studies, 7(3), 361. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-005-3650-z

Moreover, the act of kindness alleviates stress which can enhance our feeling in helping people. We should know that generosity is not a burden but it is an antidote to our anxiety and stress feeling especially when people enjoyed and appreciated your kindness. 

In conclusion, Asha Curran in her TED Talk serves a powerful reminder in her message that our world’s transformation can start with the power of generosity. By embracing the acts of kindness, individuals can build a more joyful, brighter and peaceful future for all.

by: Nur Ainun Haziqah Binti Sobri (212628)

Despite the darkness that pervades our world, there are still individuals who cling to hope, who yearn for kindness and empathy amidst the chaos. These are the ones who keep the flame of compassion burning, who remind us that goodness still exists in the hearts of men and women. It's these individuals who inspire us to break free from the cycle of cynicism and indifference.

As sentient beings aware of our surroundings, we have a choice. We can succumb to the prevailing notion that there's no point in being kind to strangers, or we can defy the status quo and actively choose to spread kindness and compassion wherever we go. It's in these moments of generosity and empathy that we truly shine as human beings, transcending our flaws and shortcomings.

Kindness is not a weakness, it's a strength. It takes courage to extend a helping hand to someone in need, to offer a word of encouragement to a stranger, or to show compassion to those who may not deserve it. But it's precisely these acts of kindness that have the power to transform lives, to uplift spirits, and to sow seeds of hope in even the darkest of times.

In a world that often feels cold and indifferent, kindness is a beacon of light, a ray of hope that cuts through the darkness. It's a reminder that no matter how bleak things may seem, there is always room for compassion, understanding, and love. So let us not be discouraged by the cruelty of the world. Instead, let us be emboldened by the power of kindness to make a difference, one small act at a time.

by: Puteri Iffah Sofea binti Abdul Razak (212032)

LET’S CHANGE THE WORLD BY BEING GENEROUS!

We as humans always talk about world peace and how much better the world would be if everyone can be nice and understand each other. However, we often feel powerless to act on our thoughts. We often feel that our small individual action is insignificant in the big, vast world with billions of people. We belittle our actions and efforts, believing that we could never make a change as just one person. However, that might not be true at all.

GENEROSITY GIVES A BIGGER IMPACT THAN WE THINK

Asha Curran, the CEO of a small generosity movement called GivingTuesday, recently shares her experience and belief through a TED talk. In her speech, she highlighted that a person’s action plays a bigger role than we think. Generosity, no matter from how small or how big the act is, is a powerful tool in making the world a better place. Even though an action is seen as simple or mundane to us, it could cause a bigger impact on others than we may realize. For example, giving children candies or sharing your homecooked meals with your coworkers. These actions may inspire those around us to also be kind and generous to others and cause a chain reaction of generous acts among the community.

            There are also those who are tied from being generous as they think that their life is already stressful and trying as is. They believe that they are in no place to help others when their life is already stressful. However, in her speech, Asha Curran also believes that generosity alleviates stress in one’s life. Therefore, by performing generous acts in our daily life, we not only will make others’ day better but also make our lives a happier and more fulfilling one. This is proven true when a group called The Ascent Staff (2021), conducted a study titled It Pays to Be Generous, that did a research to see how satisfied humans are in their life. In the study, the researchers carried an online survey of 1,010 people in the U.S and they found that high-generosity people are 23% more likely to be satisfied with their lives overall compared to low-generosity people.

HOW DO WE BECOME GENEROUS?

            Sometimes we think that being generous requires big action that will catch the eyes of the public towards the act, like giving a huge donation, joining a charity run or providing the homeless with a place to live. However, we fail to see that even the smallest act of generosity counts. Start your day by practicing to be generous is the simplest of acts. Greet people on the street on your way to work today. Buy a one-dollar coffee for your friend, give a candy to kids in the playground, share a drink with a local labor worker or just simply give a flower to a person you pass by on the street. You may see these actions as trivial but without knowing, you could make a person’s day better.

Fortunately, there are still good people in this world, and they are trying to make the world a better place one step at a time. For example, Asha Curran created the concept of Giving Tuesday in 2012. The main idea of Giving Tuesday was to encourage the public to do generous acts of kindness, no matter how big or small, on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. Curran created Giving Tuesday with the hopes that it can inspire people to donate their time or money to do an act of good for their community. Giving Tuesday is a global movement which means that anyone around the world can join in on this movement to inspire themselves to contribute to the causes or communities that they care about.

Many “feel-good” stories were posted using the hashtag #GivingTuesday on social media platforms. One of which was the story of Toronto citizens writing supportive messages on the sidewalks using chalk. Even though this gesture might seem insignificant to some, it did make some people’s day, and that is enough to inspire more people to show kindness to people. Acts of kindness do not only mean donations or volunteer work; sometimes, just making people smile and feel good counts because as long as you do it with a generous heart, that is all that matters. This is because these small gestures can inspire more people who do have time and money to help people.

One of the wonderful people who thought of their community is Alisha Thompson. She was just eight years old when she started caring for the homeless population in her community. She gave care packages to those without homes and she reached out to Curran in hopes to expand her efforts in giving kindness to the homeless community. This shows that no matter how young you are you can choose to make a difference. All you need is a bit of motivation and the generosity in your heart. With that, you can be the kindness that you need for the world to be a better place.

Ever heard of the term ‘radical generosity’? Funnily enough, people often think that anything with the word ‘radical’ in it is always associated with something negative. Something extreme. Something that leads to chaos and disruption. In some ways, it is true — just look at ‘radical feminism’ for example, or what some might coin as ‘radfem’. Radfems refer to feminists who apply extreme ideologies in their goals in achieving gender equality that might raise questions regarding the ethics of it all. Beside the point, there are terms starting with ‘radical’ that exude positivity, like radical generosity that I would like to highlight in this post! (Take a look at Dua Lipa’s new album, Radical Optimism, as well. Now that’s the album of the summer for the positive girlies, with a good representation of the word ‘radical’, God bless.)

In Asha Curran’s talk, she interestingly mentioned this term in association with GivingTuesday, which is an organisation that helps people in need. At first, it started as unofficial small acts of kindness done on Tuesdays by kind-hearted individuals. People leave bright chalk messages on city sidewalks of Toronto, paint rocks all over Nairobi, and build free pantries for those in Tennessee. Now, it has become an established thing initiated by the organisation.

When talking about being generous and giving back to society, the first thing that would pop in our heads would be — money. After all, money does make the world go round, no matter how bleak it sounds. The root cause of poverty? Lack of money. Homelessness? Money. Depleting mental health due to being overworked which is growing alarmingly common among individuals in recent years? You guessed it, money. So logically, giving out money might just be the best choice to aid those in need.

But in the words of Asha Curran, “Giving only money is like love only in terms of diamonds.” Just like what the wise would say, money cannot buy happiness. After all, there are rich people who are miserable. 

So what can we do to participate in this trend?

Do small acts of kindness that can put a smile on people’s faces. If you don’t have cash to solve global hunger, or world peace, or cure everyone’s depression, start with the person closest to you. Pay for the person behind you in the drive-thrus. Share a piece of bagel with a stranger waiting with you at the bus stop after long, tiring hours of desk job. Give the pregnant lady your seat in the train. These might seem incredibly tiny in comparison to millionaires donating millions to NGOs that you often see on your Twitter or Facebook, but believe it or not, a lot of people are still reluctant to do small acts of kindness. This is simply because everyone shares the same mindset — ‘It won’t make a difference if I do it anyway’, or ‘After all, I already have too much on my plate’.

You see, if all 7 billion people in the world finally discard this attitude, society can actually become a better place. Contribute to the world, and it will kindly give back to you.

So when you wake up tomorrow, take a deep breath, then think on how you can apply #RadicalGenerosity for the rest of your day.

By: Nur Iman Sofia binti Rosli (210272)

Generosity shapes the future that keeps society together.

Generosity does not need a big gesture. Even a small act of kindness can positively affect at least one person in this world. The kindness itself does not need to be done by someone famous for the generosity to be acknowledged by others. You, yourself can start the act. Start by sharing or giving empathy to the closest person around you.

You can influence the world to change into a better place with one small act at a time.

The small acts can be like:

1. In Toronto, people chalked messages of gratitude and love on their city sidewalks. This act not only uplifted the mood of people who walked by but also encouraged others to do the same.

2. In Nairobi, people painted bright-colored rocks with inspirational messages written on them, then placed them at the park benches, bus stops, and everywhere around the city to bring smiles to people.

3. Allison, who plans to combat food insecurity in her community shares his idea on Facebook and has encouraged a small group of people to join hands in this act of kindness.

(source: Asha Curran-Ted Talk Infectious Generosity)

Remember you do not need to hesitate to give and share as every act could mean a little something to some people. Generosity extends far beyond money and gifts. We discover great influence in modest gestures such as sending positive messages, organising community project, and many more. These deeds inspire more kindness, demonstrating that each of us has the ability to change the world. By adopting extreme generosity in our daily decisions, we may create a more joyous, inclusive, and peaceful future. This vision, based on empathy and solidarity, is realistic and transformative, demonstrating that ordinary acts of generosity are truly remarkable. Let us use our everyday moments to help build a better world together.

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By: Chung Fui Ming 213573

Imagine a world where every small decision we make carries the potential to change someone’s life for the better. Things like whether to give a smile to a stranger, or whether to recycle today’s coffee cup. These seemingly insignificant choices can create ripples of positive impact that extend far beyond what we can see. This is the essence of radical generosity  that was beautifully illustrated in a video I recently watched by Asha Curran.

In today's world, it might seem trivial to focus on small acts of kindness amid widespread pain and suffering. However, the power of these micro-decisions is often underestimated. Each intentional act of generosity can have significant and far-reaching effects, influencing not just the immediate recipient but many others in ways we might never imagine.

Radical generosity is not about grand gestures, it's about rooting our decisions in the value of giving. As one of the leaders of Giving Tuesday shared, radical generosity means embedding generosity in our daily behaviors, even in the smallest and most mundane decisions. This perspective has been shaped by a decade of witnessing generosity in action across the globe, from Kenya to Colombia to Canada.

Generosity, often associated solely with giving money, extends far beyond just financial contributions. It includes acts of kindness, empathy, and solidarity that build bridges between people and create a sense of community. Whether it's chalking messages of love on sidewalks in Toronto, painting inspirational rocks in Nairobi, or creating free pantries in Jackson, Tennessee, these small acts of kindness inspire others to follow suit.

Generosity also has personal benefits. It alleviates stress, enhances well-being, and fosters a sense of hope and happiness. For instance, Sujan, a Nepalese restaurateur in London, started cooking free meals for overwhelmed hospital workers during the pandemic. His actions inspired others to join him, leading to the delivery of over 100,000 free meals. Similarly, Chloe, who at eight years old started making toiletry bags for homeless women, has now delivered 5,000 bags and initiated Giving Tuesday Kids, a global community of young people engaged in acts of service.

These stories, though extraordinary, are not unique. There are countless individuals performing acts of generosity daily, even if they don't make headlines. They remind us that generosity is not a burden but a gift. It serves as an antidote to fear, anxiety, loneliness, and outrage, demonstrating the immense power we each have to make the world a better place.

When we collectively embrace generosity, we can build a more joyful, equitable, and peaceful future. This vision of a world rooted in radical generosity is not too radical to imagine. In fact, it is a reality we can create, one small act at a time. Today, my belief in the power of small acts has reinforced and reminded me that every decision we make holds the potential to spread positivity and inspire others. Let’s all play our roles in making the world a better place.

Everyday in our lives, we unconsciously do many acts of kindness, starting with holding the door for strangers, giving way to other drivers that need to change their lane, or even just a simple act of smiling. This one fleeting moment could be amplified 100 times over, as being explained by Asha with a story of how Chloe, a young girl who initiated a movement to support homeless women with care packages, leading to the establishment of Giving Tuesday Kids. 

This shows that every act of kindness matters, and that it doesn’t need to be something on a big scale. At the end of the day what matters the most is the impact it gives. 

For more details, you can check the TEDtalk:

By: Nurfaezah binti Zainol Abidin 208984

I know that you must be thinking ‘How I am going to help other people if I do not have money?’ right? Well, that’s remind me of this one post in social media, she said in the post “I’m not rich but I can give lives.” See, you don’t need money only to help people. But what you need is a kind heart of yours with small acts. It’s true that money is important form for giving. However, there is something that even more important and great which is “Love.” Love is like a diamond if we live in a world with empathy. Love can build bridges to one another.

Even though a simple messages in the wall just using small chalk can make people's day better. - Asha Curran, CEO of Giving Tuesday

by: Wan Fathiah Binti Wan Mohd Zain (211192)

"Beyond Good Deeds: The Power of Acts of Kindness"

Have you ever wondered how small acts of kindness can spark a whole global movement? According to Cregg and Cheavens (2002), acts of kindness refer to benevolent and helpful actions intentionally directed towards another person, motivated by the desire to help another and not to gain reward or to avoid punishment. 

Asha Curran, the CEO of the global generosity movement Giving Tuesday, said that what we share and what keeps us together and keeps us working, is a dream of a future based on the value of radical generosity. Simple acts like holding the door open for someone, offering a compliment, or helping a neighbor with their groceries can brighten someone’s day and foster a sense of community. As an example, sharing clothes with my peers is a common practice for me. Whenever there is an important event or meeting and someone doesn't have the right outfit, I am always willing to lend them mine that fits the theme. Other forms, such as time, attention, compassion, and skills can also be given as acts of kindness.

How can you participate?

Giving Tuesday is formed where it is a global day that people give and encourage people to do good, even a small act. This movement is held each year on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. This movement allows people to make a positive impact on society.

"Unleashing the Effect: The Influence of Small Acts of Kindness"

According to Asha, researchers suggest that each act of kindness or good deed has their own potential to positively impact someone, or even multiple individuals. Money is just one form of giving kindness. 

Watch here: https://www.ted.com/talks/asha_curran_how_acts_of_kindness_sparked_a_global_movement?utm_campaign=tedspread&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=tedcomshare

We should always consider the possibility that our small acts of kindness may serve as inspiration for people whom you may never encounter, encouraging them to also engage in acts of goodness when they feel your kindness. Often, we underestimate the influence of our own actions and this underestimation might hinder us from engaging in kind gestures more frequently.

“Generosity Alleviates Stress”

Being generous allows us to exert control over our environment in a positive way. By taking action to help others, we regain a sense of agency and empowerment, which can reduce feelings of stress and helplessness. It is indeed an antidote to our fear, anxiety, loneliness and isolation. Being generous to others could remind us that we have this tool accessible to every single one of us every day, which is the power to change someone else's day. 

by: Muna’Izzah Binti Suhaimi

Objective: To create public awareness about kindness

Hello everyone!

We all know that kindness is one of the most desired things by many people. However, it is not an easy thing to do for some people. I think that people who do kindness is one of the respectful and lovely people. Speaking of kindness, I am a fan of Asha Curran, the CEO of GivingTuesday, who envisions a society based on kindness and compassion. 

So, today, I am going to talk about one wonderful video that I have watched which represents Asha Curran where she talked about kindness and her popular organization. I hope you find enjoyment in this sharing!

In the video, Asha was talking about kindness at TED, a platform where great people present their experiences, ideas and many more. Our lives, she claimed, are composed of insignificant moments and wants. However, the truth is that we frequently underestimate the impact of our own selfless deeds. It is like we do not believe in the good things that we do. 

The effects of good deeds are tremendous and of course, they surely will repay you in kindness too. So, for me, there is nothing to lose when you want to do good deeds. Also, what one person can achieve, according to her, is enormous. Meaning that, even if it is only you, you can achieve so many things. Do not ever limit yourself.

Just like how brave Asha Curran is when she has been one of the leaders of GivingTuesday since it was created in 2012. She has been pulling off this vital role since the beginning, and now, she is the CEO of the organization. What a fantastic achievement for a magnificent woman like her.

So, the organization that she handles is like a global movement that unleashes the power of radical generosity. With the shared goal of creating a society in which generosity is a common occurrence, this global network works together year-round to encourage generosity everywhere.

She said that kindness can start from a small act at a time. It does not matter whether you are encouraging someone to smile, being present for a cause or people you care about, —every act of kindness matters, and everyone has something to offer. So, people who join this movement will be taught to spread generosity to drive generosity.

One of the delightful moments that she shared in the video, is about when a woman posted that even though she is not rich, she does not have millions of dollars, but she can help change lives on GivingTuesday. She will always remember this post which sparked an ignite throughout the whole United States and the entire world. This is such an amazing achievement for the organization.

All in all, what can I conclude from this writing is that I hope that everyone will be more ignited to do generosity, to spread generosity to everyone. You can start even with a small act of kindness.

Thank you and have a great day!

References:

https://www.ted.com/talks/asha_curran_how_acts_of_kindness_sparked_a_global_movement?subtitle=en

https://www.givingtuesday.org/about/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashacurran/

https://www.ted.com/about

Power of Generous Actions

Isn’t it beautiful to live a life full of kindness and generosity? Imagine how a small deed can grow into a massive change in someone’s life. 

Make someone’s day brighter

The concept of giving back to the community can be heard as something big and structured. This can hinder people from helping others as they think giving back might require a lot of money, time and effort. Have you ever wondered how a small gift can impact others? Gift here does not necessarily mean luxurious handbags to make someone’s day, but actually giving a smile, giving someone water, and giving flowers to a person. All of these are gifts of kindness. Being generous to other people will indeed immensely not only make a person’s day brighter but eases our tasks on that day. 

Generosity reflects in your health

According to Harding (2023), doing acts of kindness can boost our mood, increase self-esteem and boost our immune system. Other health issues including stress, blood pressure and anxiety can be reduced. This shows how impactful a small act of generosity can be in our lives. Doing good makes us feel good and better about ourselves, hence following up to make other people feel better. Did you know that even giving a hug can reduce your stress levels? Have you ever been hugged and it made all your worries disappear? Suddenly everything feels a little bit more calmer and serene? Well, study shows that hugging another person is just like hugging ourselves and it can decrease levels of stress during that moment (Ocklenburg, 2022). So, go hug your loved ones when you feel tired or sad. A hug from a family member, partner or children may soothe and wash away your worries!

Being kind makes you happy

Doing acts of kindness can increase levels of happiness and joy. Did you know how contagious being kind is? Your small thought of giving someone flowers can be seen by other people and inspire them to do the same. Nowadays, there are so many ways to share good acts of service that people can do even with a small amount of money. Social media has also been a platform where we see videos of people giving money to the homeless, paying for strangers' groceries, giving out love letters and leaving notes for people just to make them smile. All of these actions do not need to be thought or planned. You can just see a person in need and help  them straight away. Be a friend to yourself by helping out others (Kumar, 2022). Remember, a friend in need is a friend indeed.

References

1. Harding, K. 2023. Is generosity good for your health? ColumbiaDoctors. https://www.columbiadoctors.org/news/generosity-good-your-health

2. Kumar, A. 2022. Kindness Can Have Unexpectedly Positive Consequences. Scientific American. 

3. Ocklenburg, S. 2022. 4 Important New Discoveries About Hugging. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-asymmetric-brain/202202/4-important-new-discoveries-about-hugging#:~:text=The%20length%20of%20a%20hug%20influences%20our%20mood.&text=Research%20shows%20that%20getting%20hugged,feel%20better%20about%20their%20health.
   

This is what I believe in the terms of kindness. Kindness is like a seed that can grow up to fill other people's lives. Being good to other people can bring happiness to ourselves. This is what I feel when trying to help others.

Today, I have learned something about kindness from a video from Ted Talk which I really agree with. It really opened my eyes on how these acts of kindness can change the world.

Based on the Ted video ‘How acts of kindness sparked a global movement’, the video points out the importance in doing kindness to other people no matter how small it is. People live in societies where each person depends on each other to live and survive. The existence of other people has a meaningful impact on our lives as we could find happiness through interaction with people. The small actions from our everyday lives might affect other people either in a good way or bad way. Thus, it depends on us to choose to be a good and generous person or the person with a negative attitude. People who choose generosity and kindness could make a difference to the world because with small acts could bring change to people and the world. We might not realise that small acts could achieve big accomplishments. 

In the video, the speaker stated that the movement of Giving Tuesday was started by doing small acts of kindness and 11 years later, the Giving Tuesday movement reached a global audience that helped many people in the United State. This is because people with the same goal and dream keep working together to achieve their best outcome. When we talk about giving, we tend to think about giving money, but it is not all about money. Any kind of kindness can help to change the world even though it seems impossible. For example, in Toronto, people write messages of gratitude on the city sidewalks to uplift people ood and try to give positive energy for those who passed by. This kind of action really helps people who have trouble in their lives or those who are struggling with depression because a little kindness like this could remind them that some people still care and they could appreciate the generosity of others.

In conclusion, every little act of kindness does matter for other people. I hope that other people will try to be kind to others and find their meaning.

By: Nurul Khalisah

Life is meaningful. What we do in every moment of our life should be a meaningful. Imagine you are doing good things to someone that really need your helps. You might receive a smile, from them, they might be thankful to you or even give something for you in return. A simple act kindness brings unexpected things to our life.

Sometimes people underestimate the act of generosity.

1.    How can we deliver kindness

The act of kindness or generosity, can be deliver in a variety of ways. It might be a simplest thing in our life but it is also could be the biggest things to other people. For example, giving genuine compliment to the family members, friend or colleague, lend a help of hand, or even offers support. People who are receiving kindness may get an emotional boost in their life.

2.    The affects of the act of kindness

·       Avoid insecurities

·       Reduce stress

·       Ease other people’s life

·       Bring peace to the world

·       Inspire other peoples to do good things to the world

To begin in spreading the act of kindness may be difficult but people must remember, the act of kindness is a gift and it is better for our peaceful life. Let us start together to create a meaningful moment in our life. Remember that there is no waste if we bring happiness to other peoples because it will make our own life good. Everyday can be a powerful day to bring happiness to the world. We may inspire other people to do good things too. last but not least, remember to smile!

by: SITI NUR SAHIRA (211803)

When I watched the documentary from the Youtube and I affected by these moving stories contributed by Su Zhang and Chloe ect people because they afforded their generous to contribute to many people, the most impression point is Su Zhang not only provided hot meals for workers, but he did charity works in the pandemic. One kindness will affect one person in a whole life because they will remember you generously forever. Maybe a tiny kindness behavior cannot attract enormous attention but the tiny generous behavior is enough to change the world.

        The speech mentioned about “giving Tuesday” and it is a charity institution that donate money to kinds of people who are facing starving conditions or hard to survive so set the special days in one week, it will provide convince to charity people devote to donate money or supplies to people who need help. From my point of view, it will bring more benefits because most people will remember this day and attract more and more people to join the charity institution and help more people. In addition, another person is Chloe , she is a female who is devoted to helping more females even though she learned to tailor to help some females. In the society, most female power is increased and  many women are beginning to awaken because they will improve their own status and self protection by female power, so Chole makes a generous contribution to every female so it is also an enormous kindness behavior in the society . The speech in Ted mentioned if we do any tiny or enormous generous behaviors, the more joyful, peaceful in the future.

            I hope one day I will try my best to do some charities to more people and give them warmth to light up their life. At the same time it will make me feel happy and warm.

Persona: I am someone who is an advocate of spreading kindness among the younger generation to make the world a better place to live in.

Who would have thought the simplest act of buying someone’s behind you a cup of coffee could alleviate your moods and instantly make your day a thousand times better? Yes, it might sound kind of overexaggerating, but research shows that even the smallest act of kindness can affect your mood and mental well-being for the day. According to Kirby (2024), engaging in acts of kindness not only brightens someone else's day but also boosts your own happiness.

Just imagine being in a community filled with pure kindness and no hatred at all. It sounds like a perfect world to live in, right? You might wonder, Is this even possible to achieve? And the answer to this question is—yes! But it is only possible to make it happen if everyone chooses to be kind and respectful towards others. Hence, this is a wake-up call for everyone, especially the youngster, to start spreading kindness towards anyone that you meet on a daily basis or even someone that you meet online.

To expedite this movement, it is undeniable that social media plays a huge role in spreading awareness of the huge impacts of spreading good values to everyone, especially the younger generation. Thus, it is very vital to use social media as a medium to show good virtues and be kind to someone else by not spreading any kind of hatred or bad influence on huge social media platforms such as TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram. You can change social media into a digital world filled with positive qualities just by hindering yourself from commenting something negative under someone’s post, even though you do not fancy the content that they deliver. Just simply scroll away, and voilà, you are one step closer to making the mundane world a better place to live in, just by the minute kindness that you chose to practice.

Therefore, let’s hold hands together to purify our negative surroundings by showing an act of kindness towards everyone. Just believe that your small act of warmth and affection could bring a big, bright smile to someone else’s face.

Reference

1. Kirby, J. (2024a, February 12). Why random acts of kindness matter. Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - University of Queensland. https://habs.uq.edu.au/blog/2023/02/why-random-acts-kindness-matter#:~:text=Whether%20it’s%20as%20simple%20as,also%20boosts%20your%20own%20happiness.

Hey there kind souls! I wanted to share a story that illustrates a really amazing power, a small act of kindness which really gives me inspiration to talk about it and share it with people. I might say, I'm one of the people who really believes in doing good things and can make everyone better in the future. I was truly moved by a Ted Talk video titled “How an act of kindness sparked a global moment” by Asha Curren. This video shows how one simple gesture such as generosity, the effects of that are more powerful that one person can accomplish enormously. 

Based on Asha’s talk, she tells us the story of a Giving Tuesday movement, which began as a modest idea and it turned out to be one of a powerful movement till today. The movement concept was straightforward yet powerful; in creating a day of giving back, following two days of consumptions Black Friday to Cyber Monday, which can lead to encouraging people around the world to perform acts of generosity to people who needed, whether giving donations to charity, volunteering or even give a helping hand to your own neighbor.  

Asha then highlighted touching moments that let her witness the principle generosity in different actions in different countries. She has been through different places from Kenya to Colombia to Canada, where she encounters different people who give her a huge amount of beautiful generosity towards her. Being generous is not only about giving money to the people who needed, even though money is important however, we would love even more is to live in a world of immeasurable abundance, empathy and solidarity where it can builds bridges in order to share the same bond with one another at the same time

What are the small acts that we can do? They might look like in Toronto, where people chalked messages of gratitude and love on city sidewalks, in order to let their people have a great time and enjoy their day with their smiles. In Malaysia, where I'm currently living, in order to make people smile, we can start out with cleaning up the beach where people go for their free time. 

In my opinion, one of the best aspects of this movement is it allows people to be a better person by helping others. It is my first time hearing about this Giving Tuesday movement and it really shocked me till this day. I really hope that we can fully use this movement in Malaysia. It is clear that each of us have the potential to spark some changes.

by Afriena Syasya binti Ahmad Sazali

In today’s world, where every person has their own struggle to survive, the stress that comes from the struggle can be reduced by the act of “generous”. Every person needs to have the characteristics of generosity where this particular trait can be achieved by giving to other people and we can also receive from other people. This kind of act reflects both the situation for the sender and the receiver. You should practice this trait in your life not only once but many times. This is because one kind of act can lead to an abundance of good outcomes.

Cited from a video of Asha Curran, who is the CEO of the global generosity movement GivingTuesday, she stated how people seem to underestimate the action of being generous. She stated that the choice we made, is far more grateful than we think. To illustrate, in Nairobi, some people painted motivational quotes on rocks with the purpose of brightening one’s life. Full of decoration on the rocks with vibrant colours and great drawings, it is then were dispersed to many areas like bus stops and park benches. To bring up a smile on someone’s face, this project was conducted. We should take note to this particular object where we should be kind and sincere not only to the people that we know but also to the people that we do not know about.

Moreover, to make an action of generosity does not include a large amount of money. Asha Curran gave an example of how a woman said that she was not rich with millions of dollars, but she managed to help people on Giving Tuesday where Giving Tuesday is an act in Tuesday to encourage people to do good. This should be inspirational not specifically to one country but also to the other country. We should know that kindness can happen anywhere and everywhere. In addition, working as a group to make a movement is far better and more effective similar to the movement of GivingTuesday. So, you can try making a movement of being generous by gathering your relatives or your friends first because teamwork makes the dream work.

Does doing good to people means they will be doing good to you as well? Of course it is a no. However, we should believe that the kindness that we possess will eventually shape ourselves into a better person. Have you ever heard of charity works conducted around your country? I bet you’d know about it since we are the modernized generation equipped with advanced technologies here and there to make sure you stay updated with the current issues. Nowadays we can see that a lot of people have held charity jobs to the ones who are in need without hoping for anything in return. The charity works include giving free food, toiletries and sanitary pads to the homeless ones. Conducting these kinds of voluntary activities would encourage us to actually witness the unfortunate ones living their life by interacting with them or seeing the conditions of their “home” and other belongings. By witnessing the conditions of the homeless’ life, we would eventually feel the pain of living in a life that may seem hopeless to them thus making us encouraged or desired to do the same thing all over again. Another important thing that you must know is that these voluntary works would actually brighten their days as they know that there are people out there who still acknowledged their existence and cared for them. By knowing the pure intention people have towards them, these groups of people will eventually see the lights of hope and be motivated to continue their life even if it means they need to start from the bottom. 

Looking to the era we are living in today, people do good deeds not just by doing charity, but people eventually being more creative in making someone’s day better. If we look at our TikToks or Instagrams, there are some wholesome videos that touched the hearts of every person who was watching it. There’s this one video where a person carries a board that says “if you are having a rough day, you can hug me”. Well, it might look silly at the first glance but the video shows that a lot of people came to the person and hugged him tightly as they could. Some of them cried, some of them laughed and some of them stayed still for a long time. From that video, we can also conclude that every person has their own problems that might disturbed their emotions and they are still struggling to overcome such problems.  Therefore, this simple thing actually makes their days brighter and it does not require you a huge amount of money to make them feel good or appreciated.

All in all, we should not be tired of doing good to others because the good things will eventually come back to you. Keep being the good girl and boy you are. Let the world see it and you will slowly see how everything leads you to a better life.

SPREAD YOUR WINGS, SHOW YOUR KINDNESS TO THE WORLD

Hello, kind and generous people around the world. Do you like the world with negativity or positivity? Of course, everyone will choose to live in a world full of positivity and peace. However, sometimes people can be cruel and mean. Do you guys ever know what is happening in this world? Palestine was attacked and bombed by Israel. But of course, we do not have the power to stop this from happening. But have you ever wondered if your small acts of kindness could make a difference?  Now, this is the time to spread our wings and help those who needed. Let us show how powerful those small acts can be.

Let’s be kind by doing:

1. Start with small things

Asha Curran in a Ted Talk said that she once heard a woman say “I am not rich, I do not have a million dollars but I can help change lives on Giving Tuesday.”

From this quote, you do not need to be rich or a millionaire to help people or to show your generosity. Kindness cannot be measured by how much money you have. You can start with a small thing, which is “boycotting”.

With this small act, it will have a significant impact on Israel, especially its economy. From now on, please stop purchasing Israeli goods and boycott their products and other products that fund them.

2. Changing the Way We Think About Giving

The beauty of Giving Tuesday is that it is more than just a single day. The aim is to create a culture of giving that lasts all year round. By encouraging people to think creatively about how they can contribute to their communities, Giving Tuesday is helping to shift our mindset from “What can I get?” to “What can I give?”

This shift is crucial for places like Palestine, where continuous support and solidarity can help foster resilience and hope.

3. Stop being ignorance

Dear kind people, stop being ignorance and start to voice out on what is happening in Palestine. If you have social media such as Instagram, X, Tiktok or other social media platforms, please join the campaign “All Eyes On RAFAH” and spread this poster around the world. Kind people, let's advocate for justice and support our Palestinian people. You can contribute to be a broader effort to address the Palestinian issue by doing this.

Dear kind people, Giving Tuesday is desperately needed in Palestine. The region has been enduring prolonged conflict and hardship, leading to significant humanitarian needs. The global community’s response, inspired by movements like GivingTuesday, has shown how collective action can bring much-needed relief and hope. Let’s help them!

In our daily lives, it’s easy to overlook the small gesture such as the fleeting smile, the whispered words of encouragement. Yet, these seemingly insignificant acts that hold immense power. Have you ever had a very stressful day at work or at school where there’s a pile of workload and assignment deadlines awaiting. And then out of nowhere, someone extends a hand. Maybe it’s your colleague or your close friend who offers to grab a coffee together, or just a mere stranger that you passed by on the street who flashes a smile. Suddenly, the world feels a little lighter, and your frown turns into a smile. I have stumbled upon a Ted talk video on “How Acts of Kindness Sparked a Global Movement” by Asha Curran. In that video she shared about how we always think of that little act of generosity is nothing much, however it can bring such great power when it is multiplied and amplified which can ignite a global movement.

In the video, Asha Curran shares stories that can be warm the heart and spark the spirit of positivity. She reminds us that there’s not only specific to giving money as donations, but hundreds of ways generosity can be manifested all around the world. The beauty of kindness lies in its universality. It can transcends the language barrier, culture divides, and even geographical distances. When the small act of generosity is amplified and multiplied, it becomes a force that knows no bounds. According to the video, Asha Curran give an example of a Nepales restaurateur who was impacted by the Covid-19 as his restaurant faced empty tables and quiet corridors. However, he saw this as opportunity and a chance to make a difference. He decided to cook free meals for the tireless health workers on the frontline. Every day, he prepared nourishing hot dishes. These weren’t just meals; they were acts of gratitude, love, and solidarity.

Word spread like wildfire.

Chloe’s initiative didn’t go unnoticed. GivingTuesday, the global generosity movement, embraced her spirit. They established “GivingTuesday Kids,” a platform where young changemakers could share their stories, inspire others, and ignite movements of their own. Chloe’s care packages became a symbol—a reminder that even the smallest hands can shape the world.

Asha Curran, CEO of GivingTuesday, celebrates these stories. She reminds us that generosity isn’t reserved for grand gestures. It lives in the everyday choices; the ladle of soup, the handwritten note, the smile exchanged between strangers. These acts, multiplied and amplified, transform communities, heal wounds, and bridge divides.

So, let’s honor Sujan, Chloe, and countless others who cook, care, and create change. Their legacy reminds us that kindness isn’t a finite resource; it’s a wellspring that replenishes with every act. As we navigate life’s twists and turns, let’s choose generosity. Let’s cook, share, and uplift. Because in the warmth of a shared meal, we find hope, resilience, and the promise of a better world.

Have you ever experienced the rush of delight as a result of doing something pleasant for another person? The enchantment of generosity lives on! I am a student, and I am constantly exposed to it. A little gesture of kindness, such as greeting someone in the hallway or offering to share notes, has the power to entirely transform someone's day, and it may sometimes motivate them to return the favour by helping others. On the other hand, the strength of compassion extends well beyond the confines of our institution.

During her TED Talk, Asha Curran, who is the Chief Executive Officer of GivingTuesday, a worldwide movement that promotes charity, encapsulates this concept well.  Curran is of the opinion that kindness is infectious, and that even the tiniest acts of kindness may set off a domino effect of positively affecting relationships.  The vision that Curran has for GivingTuesday has brought together people from more than one hundred different nations, therefore developing a spirit of compassion all around the world. Curran is herself a monument to the power of giving back.

The wonderful thing about being nice is that it does not call for any specialised abilities or resources.  Every individual, regardless of their history or current financial circumstances, is eligible to take part.  Doing something as simple as listening with an open heart, holding the door open for someone, or providing assistance are all examples of acts of kindness that have the potential to make a difference.

Kindness is a choice, so keep that in mind. In our day-to-day contacts, whether they are with our family, friends, coworkers, or even complete strangers, we have the ability to make the conscious decision to be kind.  Through the practice of kindness, we have the ability to shape the world into a more optimistic and compassionate place, one tiny act at a time. Today, let's all try to be a little bit more nice to one another, and then we can see the ripple effect start to take place.

In a world that contains varieties of people’s behaviour, it is very easy to overlook the small gestures that can make others happy, or even us! Yet, it is also very easy for us to create small gestures that can make ourselves and other people happy. Let’s take a look at these three examples of gestures that can help us and others to get through the day.

1. Compliments

• Tell people about how amazing they are, how good looking they are. This is probably the easiest way to make someone happy. For example, when you are walking around the neighbourhood, you will pass by anyone either your friends, colleagues or even strangers. Compliment them. Tell them pretty, tell them gorgeous, tell them that they have a pair of pretty eyes, tell them that their fit is so cool. Compliments are easy to express, so let it out and keep the people happy.

2. Act of Service

• We do know that this is one of the love languages, right? Obviously, people like this small gesture. Open the cafe door for them, lend a hand when they want to cross the road, write a note for the barista and tell them they made great coffee and many more random acts of kindness that you can do to make people smile. Let their day become easier, for them, and for you.

3. Listen Carefully

• Let them think that they are being loved, valued, and appreciated. Try to listen to what they are talking about. This small gesture can be done especially to your friends and families. They need a listener to listen to their rant. It helps a lot in reducing their stress and anxiety. Not only them, we, as in you, also need a great listener to talk out your difficulties. Make sure you find a great company. 

The small gestures meant a lot to us and others. But why does it matter? Here are three basic advantages when you do small gestures.

1.  Domino effect

• After witnessing or facing an act of kindness, this will eventually encourage them to do the same towards other people. They will be braver to tell compliments, they will be more driven to help people in need, and they tend to be willing to listen to other people. 

2. Strengthen relationships

• When we show that we care about others, like listening to them attentively, helping them even if it is a small matter, and giving them attention, it will make them feel cherished and respected. That will lead us and them to create a closer bond.

3. Improve mental health

• Other than feeling loved and appreciated, they will also feel like they have released some of the big problems that they are facing. By speaking out about what has been lingering around their mind, it will help them loosen up. 

See? It is not a big deal to make the world happy. Being happy, and making others happy is one of the most important things to make someone have the courage to stay alive. You don’t even need money to do these acts of kindness. By recreating these examples, you indirectly help people to keep being strong and carry on their lives. So, keep being kind by doing those small things, though they don’t know you, or you don’t know them. Live and love your life.