One of the things I love most about the Internet is the speed and ease with which it connects large numbers of people with potentially world-changing ideas. Someone comes up with a great idea for making change and that idea goes viral. Within a matter of minutes everyone is talking about and coming up with fabulous variations on that initial theme. That's what the Internet does best.
Consider for example the numerous kind acts that have been inspired by one simple concept: COIN-SPIRACY. Participants who want to be part of COIN-SPIRACY are asked to commit three acts of kindness: one for self (which can apply to an individual or an organization); one for the environment; and one for another. COIN-SPIRACY participants have invested 282,383 hours in community service and raised $270,143 for their local communities as well as communities in more than 45 countries around the world. There have also been spin-off benefits for the schools themselves: a drop in the number of bullying incidents and school bus suspensions; increased rates of reading and physical activity; and greener school communities.
Of course, you can hardly talk kindness without mentioning the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation and all the fun and inspiring resources they provide to parents, teachers and kids who want to drown out the taunts of the bullies with the message that kindness is cool.
One last thing. November 13 is World Kindness Day and November 12 to November 18 is World Kindness Week. So if you were looking for an excuse to up the kindness factor in your life — or to re-emphasize the importance of kindness to your kids — there's never been a better time.
Now over to you. Do you regularly practise acts of kindness? Have you ever been on the receiving end of an act of kindness from a stranger? Do you think we need to do a better job of teaching kids kindness — or acting with kindness ourselves?
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