By Jeanni Ritchie
If the world feels a little colder these days, you’re not imagining it. Research shows that loneliness and social isolation are at historic highs. In fact, a 2023 survey by the U.S. Surgeon General’s office declared loneliness a public health epidemic, with nearly half of American adults reporting they often feel isolated. Technology connects us more than ever, yet in so many ways, we’ve withdrawn from one another.
That’s what makes November 13 — World Kindness Day — so important. It’s not just another square on the calendar. It’s a reminder that even small acts of kindness can shift the atmosphere, both for the person receiving it and for the one giving it.
Science backs it up. Studies have found that when we practice kindness, our brains release feel-good chemicals like serotonin and dopamine. In one experiment, people who performed daily acts of kindness reported a significant boost in happiness and lower levels of anxiety. Another study revealed that kindness activates the brain’s reward system the same way chocolate or winning a prize does. In other words, kindness is contagious — and it feels good to catch it.
But beyond the science, there’s something deeply human about kindness. We are wired to connect, to see and be seen. A smile in the grocery store line, holding the door for a stranger, or sending an encouraging text takes only seconds, but it can echo far beyond the moment. For the lonely, the struggling, or the overlooked, that gesture may be the reminder that they are not invisible.
The beautiful paradox of kindness is this: while it blesses others, it simultaneously heals us. Choosing to extend grace, patience, or generosity pulls us out of self-focus and into community. It breaks down barriers of “us versus them” and replaces it with “we.” Even in seasons when we don’t have much to give, kindness costs us nothing and yet can mean everything.
So on this World Kindness Day, don’t underestimate the small things. Pay a compliment. Buy a cup of coffee for the person behind you. Thank the cashier who rings up your groceries. Write a note of appreciation to a coworker or friend. These aren’t grand gestures, but they are powerful ones.
And never, ever underestimate the power of a genuine smile.
The world may feel more isolated, but kindness is still one of the simplest ways to push back against the tide. When we choose kindness, we create ripples that spread farther than we’ll ever know. And in the process, we discover that in giving, we receive — not just smiles or gratitude, but a stronger sense of connection and joy ourselves.
Because at the end of the day, kindness isn’t just about making the world a better place. It’s about reminding us all that we’re in this together.
Jeanni Ritchie is a contributing journalist from Central Louisiana. She can be reached at jeanniritchie54@gmail.com.
