Kindness is known to each one of us, it has existed since the age of ancient philosophers and prophets. According to Oxford dictionary, the word kindness is defined as the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate.

 

Aristotle defines it as being

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“Helpful towards someone in need, not in return for anything, nor for the advantage of the helper himself, but for that of the person helped."

 

Kindness is the simplest and yet most profound way to touch lives and make a difference. A small thank you note, a smile, offering a helping hand or seat on a vehicle, sharing your food are simple seeds that go on to make you feel better and also lighten up the world of someone else.

 

Charles Darwin, who studied human evolution, believed that we are a profoundly social and caring species. He argued that sympathy and caring for others is instinctual (DiSalvo, Scientific American, 2017). Current research supports this idea. In fact, a lot of interesting studies reveal intra species kindness and concern where a Lioness will feed and care for abandoned or orphan puppies, chimpanzees adopt babies from other species and feed and treat them as their own without expecting anything in return. If animals can do so, why not homo sapiens who are the most evolved amongst all the species. We already have an innate sense of kindness amongst us, our job is to nurture it every day in all the ways we can so that it adds to our personal, social and communal happiness.

 

Kindness is what sustains us and gives a true meaning to our lives, it is a powerful way to make a difference in the world. So from today onwards, go ahead and do random acts of kindness and see happiness manifest in front of your eyes