In a world that is so polarized and divided and full of struggle, it’s important to be kind to each other. Kindness can bridge the gap between opposing views in people, cultures, and even nations. Do you know the difference between being nice and being kind? If someone calls someone nice vs calling them kind, what different feelings are invoked in your mind?
A great distinction between the two is that nice has to do with being pleasant or agreeable, whereas kind has more to do with caring about someone and showing them that you care. In other words, nice has to do with temperament, whereas kind has to do with action. You can be nice to someone without being kind to them. You can merely tolerate people and be pleasant, or you can care for them and actively contribute positive energy and positive experiences into their lives.
It’s impossible to feel negative while in the active practice of kindness to those around you, whether it’s to students, family members, friends or strangers. And when you care for someone, they feel that, and they are then uplifted and can practice kindness to those around them. Think about the last time someone did something kind for you that you didn’t even expect. How good did that make you feel? Know that there are people out there that care about you.
Kindness is Contagious Too!
In my new children’s book, Kindness is Contagious Too, launching on January 21st, children will learn to search for the opportunities in these uncertain times, and focus on the things that they can change, instead of the things that they can’t. They will learn that kindness is just as contagious as any virus.
You and your class, any of your students and your whole school are invited to hop on the Tour of Kindness—a free read aloud with me as I present Kindness is Contagious Too! Each Tuesday in the month of February, you and your students can sign up to attend the book reading with me, and we will be giving away free sets of my first book, The Hand Hug, with curriculum and activity guides to 5 schools during each session, courtesy of a grant from HEB.
You and your students can choose to attend one or more of the following free sessions.
Feb 2, 2021 10:00 AM
Feb 9, 2021 01:00 PM
Feb 16, 2021 10:00 AM
Feb 23, 2021 01:00 PM
Sign up for the Kindness Tour at: https://kic2.eventbrite.com
If you as an educator feel that you need a boost of positive energy, or need to be refreshed and refueled to continue on through the rest of the school year, you are also invited to the Refueling the Educator’s Soul Conference, happening January 29th-30th.
You can register for the event here:
Sending love and kindness your way,