The holiday season is upon us, and so is the holiday spirit. Many people may have the attitude that because it is the holidays, others should be treated with a little more kindness than usual. Extra kindness seems to be a seasonal trend, but after this Thanksgiving break it became absolutely clear that this attitude should be maintained year round.
Although many have probably thought about or been lectured about showing kindness toward others time and again, the concept does not seem to stick.
During Thanksgiving break, I traveled to Denmark and Ireland, where I finally accepted how much simple kindness can affect someone.
In the Copenhagen train station, despite that most people speak English, I was utterly lost and confused unable to figure out how to get my ticket for the train I needed to take. After wandering around trying to find a friendly face, I met an employee who was more helpful than any other service worker I have come into contact with. Even though she was busy with others, she walked me through the process step by step and answered my millions of questions with a smile.
From personal experience, I know how hard it can be to maintain a pleasant demeanor when serving others, but this woman exceeded my expectations. I had just arrived in Denmark, which is something I had been looking forward to for two months, yet her simple act of kindness completely made my day.
Being kind to others is easier said than done and may not always be in the forefront of our minds, but it benefits everyone.
A study conducted by the Department of Psychology at Tohoku Gakuin University in Sendai, Japan confirmed that acts of kindness toward others increases the happiness of both parties, which can decrease depression and stress. Mutual rewards should not be necessary, but it certainly doesn’t hurt. The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation is devoted to promoting this concept, as well as providing educational tools and daily suggestions to promote acts of kindness.
At some time or another we’ve all heard this ideology and just brushed it off. People do not need to be as devoted as the kindness foundation, but should remember that even the smallest acts can have great effects.
The moral of this column may be light-hearted, but it is one that everyone should consider. Think about how you treat other people — it could make their day.