What is World Kindness Day?

World Kindness Day is an international celebration that was started in 1998, to promote kindness throughout the world and is observed annually on November 13th as part of the World Kindness Movement. The purpose of World Kindness Day as outlined by the World Kindness Movement is “to highlight good deeds in the community focusing on the positive power and the common thread of kindness which binds us.” Since its creation more than two decades ago, this international holiday is observed in many countries including the United States, Canada, Japan, and Australia.

World Kindness Day presents us with the opportunity to reflect upon one of the most important and unifying human principles. On a day devoted to the positive potential of both large and small acts of kindness, we encourage you to promote and diffuse this crucial quality that brings people of every kind together. 

Did you know that kindness is contagious?
 
The positive effects of kindness are experienced in the brain of everyone who witnessed the act, improving their mood and making them significantly more likely to “pay it forward.” This means one good deed in a crowded area can create a domino effect and improve the day of dozens of people! Jamil Zaki, Assistant Professor of Psychology at Stanford University for Scientific American.

In honor of World Kindness Day, Mayor David Zito will be signing a City of Kindness pledge during Wednesday’s City Council Meeting! 
 
For more information and inspiration on World Kindness Day visit our City of Kindness page,
or spend some time on Random Acts of Kindness, ActionforHappiness and follow the hashtag #WorldKindnessDay on social media.