National Kindness Day

A group of diverse people engaging in acts of kindness, sharing smiles, and handing out heart-shaped cookies in a colorful park setting.. — National kindness day illustration

Wipe those war faces off, folks, and prep for a big pearly-white grin. Welcome to our page celebrating the Internet incarnation of National Kindness Day! A day when snarks and trolls tuck tail while the rest of us revel in random acts of kindness, chocolate chip cookies and surprise compliments.

When is Kindness Day?

It's national kindness day on the 31st March.

Popping onto our online radars with a whopping 6511 mentions, this buoyant beacon of benevolent behaviour swept the web, blasting a peak on the lovely spring day of March 31, 2017. But what is behind this showcase of goodwill – and more importantly, how can you hop onboard this digital express to Kindnessville? Let's uncover.

The Rise of Digital Decency

While kindness has been around since a particularly thoughtful caveman shared his fire (true story, we swear), National Kindness Day is a more recent spectacle. Born from the desire to combat online negativity, this day champions the simple but all-too-often forgotten rule: be excellent to each other. It's a refreshing change from 'Gotcha!' to 'Got your back!'

Actions Speak Louder than Tweets

Now, we're not saying kindness begins and ends in digitalese. Rather, National Kindness Day acts as a springboard, galvanising us to act with love and compassion in everyday life. So shift those cat videos aside and dedicate a slice of your browsing to bringing joy to others – you might be surprised by how addicting it can be.

Elevating Empathy, One Post at a Time

Note, National Kindness Day isn’t just about making grand gestures. Heck, the kind words you shared with a stressed colleague on that max mentions day in 2017 might just have sparked the Kindness gold rush! The day works perfectly if you're just cracking a nice joke or sharing a virtual cup of kindness, and that's exactly what makes it so special. Remember, the World Wide Web is so wide, it has room for all of us to be nice.

History behind the term 'Kindness'

300 BCE

Ancient Philosophers' Concepts

In the 3rd century BCE, ancient Greek philosophers such as Plato and Aristotle discussed the importance of kindness in their teachings. Plato believed that kindness was one of the cardinal virtues necessary for individuals to live a fulfilled life. Meanwhile, Aristotle saw kindness as an integral part of ethical behavior and emphasized the role of kindness in fostering harmonious relationships within society.

circa 800 CE

Expansion of Kindness in World Religions

Around the 9th century CE, major world religions, including Christianity, Buddhism, and Islam, further emphasized the value of kindness. These religions incorporated kindness into their ethical teachings and religious texts. In Christianity, the Golden Rule, 'Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,' highlights the significance of treating others with kindness and compassion. Similarly, Buddhism's principle of 'Metta' or 'loving-kindness' promotes the cultivation of goodwill and friendliness towards all living beings.

14th century

The Emergence of 'Kindness' as a Word

During the 14th century, the word 'kindness' emerged in Middle English, derived from the Middle English word 'kindnesse,' meaning 'noble deeds' or 'acts of charity.' At this time, kindness started to be used explicitly to describe benevolent actions and the quality of being sympathetic and considerate towards others.

18th century

Kindness in Enlightenment Philosophy

In the 18th century, the Enlightenment era gave rise to philosophers like Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Immanuel Kant, who further contributed to the understanding of kindness. Rousseau emphasized the innate goodness of human beings and how kindness could lead to social progress. Kant, on the other hand, proposed a moral theory based on reason and believed that acting with kindness was an ethical duty.

20th century

Kindness Movements and Research

During the 20th century, there was an increasing interest in kindness as a social concept. The humanitarian movements that emerged after World War II emphasized the importance of kindness and compassion in healing communities and promoting global peace. Additionally, scientific research started to explore the effects of kindness on well-being, mental health, and social relationships, providing evidence for the positive impact of kindness in various domains of life.

Did you know?

Did you know that oftentimes people act more kindly online after observing others do the same? So, spread the kindness and watch the ripple effect of good vibes spread!