The Kindness Project: 5 Ways To Be Kind

Too often kindness is relegated to a random act performed only when we’re feeling good. But an even greater kindness (to ourselves and others) occurs when we reach out even when we aren't feeling entirely whole. It’s not easy, and no one is perfect. But we’ve decided it’s not impossible to brighten the world one smile, one kind word, one blog post at a time. To that end, a few of us writers have established The Kindness Project, starting with a series of inspirational posts. We post the second Wednesday of every month. Want to join us? Grab our button and spread a little kindness. 

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Five ways to be kind, for high-schoolers:

1. If there is a new girl in your before-lunch class, introduce yourself and ask her if she wants to sit with you and your friends during lunch. Because she probably doesn't. And she probably doesn't feel bold enough to ask. She will probably breathe an audible sigh of relief as she accepts the invitation (I've been there, done that). If she's in your after-lunch class, ask her if she wants to have lunch together anyway. Just, you know, tomorrow.

2. When making eye contact with strangers, smile. Possibly the first step to developing a friendly attitude is to stop looking at strangers and then sliding your focus to somewhere beyond their shoulders, as if they weren't even there. One of the biggest turn-offs I had when visiting colleges, in fact, was when the students seemed stuck in high school: they'd look through me as they passed by, not at me. (Foreshadowing of my social life at those colleges, no?) Grinning might be hard at first. You could try starting with tugging the corners of your mouth upward.

3. Meditate often. Provide an outlet for your negative emotions, and fill yourself with radiance and positivity. It shows through. I highly recommend self-help books, yoga, and long walks for clarity of being.

4. Don't categorize or label people; keep an open mind. People are people are people, who love and fear and lose just like you do. Does it matter if she's in a different clique, or if he's not wearing the right clothes? We can all help each other. We can all learn from each other.

5. Own less, do more, be more. All seven billion of us came here with nothing, and we can take nothing when we leave. Focus less on what you want to receive, and more on what you have to give away. Stand by who you are. You should strive toward goals, but don't let them dictate your morals. Don't let them warp your view of others. Love takes precedence over objects. I wish it didn't take me 17 years to realize that.

Linda

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