World Kindness Day - For us, it’s personal!
Kindness is important to us at Transitions UK. It is a huge part of what makes this charity tick. It bonds us as a team, in delivering the support we offer and continuing to connect with new partners. Yet, we recognised that kindness is so individual in it's manifestation. It means different things to different people.
So in order to show that we understood this we asked everyone in our charity, including team members, mentors, volunteers and our beneficiaries if they wanted to contribute their individual thoughts on what they thought kindness means to them. This is what we received we hope you enjoy their responses:
“The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer someone else up” – Rosalind Lambert, Grants Officer
“’Kind’, too short a word,
To express the difference,
Showing kindness makes.” – Verity Slaughter-Penny, Virtual Project Co-ordinator
“Kindness is accepting people for who they are and helping them to be the best version of themselves they can be. Telling a man on the street that you like their tie (do this all the time or like their hair, coat, whatever!), accepts that man’s fashion choices and reinforces in them that someone else sees them as worthy of being stopped to say that. Just as much as someone you know supporting you to achieve your dreams and ambitions does the same.” – Karen Ironside, Partnerships Director
“Being considerate of other people’s feelings”
“Being there for friends when they need support”
“Caring for people and being respectful”
“The Quality of Being Friendly, Generous, And Considerate.”
“Being nice to one another and sending nice messages to others”
“Looking out for others and ensuring they don't get left behind”
“Offering someone help when I didn’t ask in the first place”
“Respecting each other” - Collection of quotes from our fabulous young people based in Stevenage
“Kindness is the gift everyone can give”. - SD
“The act of kindness is something which should come naturally to each person. Even the smallest gesture by asking someone, how they are? Can make a huge impact to a person’s wellbeing" - Amit Patel, Volunteer
“Kindness. It costs nothing but means everything, Sometimes it takes one act of kindness and caring to change someone's life” - Lauren Summers, Apprentice Digital Marketer
“Be nice to everyone even when it doesn’t matter” - Charlie Dixon, Aspire (South) Projects Director
“My definition of kindness is to do something good for somebody without expecting anything in return. Bringing happiness to somebody and seeing them smile is one of life’s purest joys 😊 - Kirsty Catherell, Volunteer Coordinator
"Kindness /ˈkʌɪn(d)nəs/ (verb)
1. bringing warmth and value to somebody with no expectation in return” - Katie Newton, Brand and Team Engagement Manager
“Be kind and you find
An entirely different
Peace of mind
A mind of pride
Of fulfilment like
Nothing else can provide” - Bethany Suggitt, Affirm Project Manager
“For me, kindness is doing something for someone, even though there is no benefit for you.” - Stephen Miller, Development Director
“Kindness to me is simple. True kindness is not thought about, it is simply built into people to act in ways that show they truly understand and have considered the impact they will have on other human beings they interact with in a positive way.” - Lena Robinson, Marketing Director
“Kindness is thinking of the needs of others in ways that move me to action. It’s brings compassion, understanding and empathy into the realm of the practical” - Ron Overton, CEO
We thank everyone single one of our amazing team members, from our staff to our incredible volunteers and beneficiaries. for taking part in such a significant day! Kindness is something that is held at the centre of what we do as a charity, and it is so important that we all hold that value close to our hearts!
So, Happy World Kindness Day! Remember to share your kindness to other people, and not just for today! It is so much more impactful than you think!