Note from Team LO: We are so thankful for a day like World Kindness Day. We can’t think of anyone more equipped to talk about acts of kindness than this strong and kind wonder woman, Korie Robertson! We hope you love this post and end your time here feeling inspired to spread kindness wherever you might be today.

ALSO! Speaking of spreading kindness, season 3 of WHOA THAT’S GOOD PODCAST is officially back today! We’re kicking it off with a very special, very kind guest 😉 Check out the episode HERE! 

Breaking News: Today is World Kindness Day! How great is that! It’s fun to read good news every once in a while, right? A quick backstory, because don’t you always wonder how these days get started? World Kindness day was launched in 1998 by the World Kindness Movement. I didn’t even know that was a thing, but the World Kindness Movement was formed in Tokyo at a conference of like-minded kindness organizations around the world.  (So awesome that there are “kindness organizations” all over the world!) The movement seeks to create a kinder world by inspiring individuals and nations toward greater acts of kindness. Currently there are over 28 countries that celebrate creating a kinder world on November 13 every year.

When most of the news is filled with troubling, sad, and even terrifying things, this day is a reminder that alongside of all of that, there are beautiful, hopeful and kind things happening as well. I love that this day re-directs the spotlight a bit. The focus is simply on creating a kinder world.

How are you going to spread kindness today?

You know that you actually have the power to make the world around you better by how you choose to live and the ways you choose to interact with others. We can choose kindness over bitterness, kindness over rudeness, kindness over thoughtlessness, kindness over contempt, kindness over niceness.  

You didn’t expect that last one did you?  I know your mom told you when you were young to “be nice.”  The definition of nice is to be “pleasant, agreeable, satisfactory.” I’m not saying don’t be nice. Being nice is an okay goal for when you’re playing in the sandbox with friends, but I think being kind goes even deeper than that.

Kindness is defined as “to show a friendly, generous and considerate nature”. Being kind is not just looking to make oneself agreeable or satisfactory. It’s more outward focused. It’s about friendliness, generosity, and looking to make someone else feel loved and considered.

Kindness is in the way that you interact with your family, friends, co-workers, and strangers on the street. Honestly, it’s not the big things. You really don’t have to make huge, sweeping changes. It’s in the little things, but those little things add up to big things over a lifetime. Your small acts of kindness with make the world around you better, I promise!

Here are a few suggestions for how can do your part to make this day count:

Write a note on your bathroom mirror for your husband or roommate to find.

Take a coffee to your co-worker.

Send a text to a friend you’ve been thinking about but haven’t heard from in a while.

Anonymously pay for someone’s meal.

Give a compliment to the grocery story clerk.

Write a little thank you note on your lunch bill to your waiter telling her she did a great job.

Include an extra snack in your kid’s lunch box with a note telling him to share with a friend.

Kindness is mentioned all throughout the bible. In the old testament, we see praises for a God who shows His kindness by caring for His people, then the new testament references Jesus as “THE kindness and love of God.” God isn’t just asking us to be kind, He is a kind God, He cares for us, and He fully expressed that kindness by giving us Jesus. Everyday is world kindness day when you are a follower of His. Read below for more, and I pray that you have a great day!

Ephesians 2:4-7

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

Titus 3:4-7

But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

1 Corinthians 13:4-5

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

2 Peter 1:5-8

Make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Colossians 3:12

As God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

Galatians 5:22-23

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Ephesians 4:32

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Proverbs 14:21

He who despises his neighbor sins, but blessed is he who is kind to the needy.

Korie Robertson is a New York Times bestselling author and speaker who is passionate about motherhood. Korie (K-Swaggy) is a mom to Sadie — and five other amazing kids. In her free time, you’ll find her playing tennis, drinking coffee and spending time with her kids and grand babies.

Follow Korie on Instagram @bosshogswife