Kindness begets kindness. So, wanted to create a space to share and amplify stories of kindness with the hope that it inspires a chain reaction.
Esdras Toussaint
I don’t know if this is the kindest thing that someone has ever done for me, I’m not comfortable with the idea of quantifying kindness, but in middle school I had a teacher who devoted a great deal of time to making me a feel seen and heard, and that experience changed my life forever. His name was Mr. Z. He was the 7th grade math teacher at Horace Mann Middle School. Before meeting him, I had been suspended and expelled several times for getting into fights with those that picked on me. You see, I had migrated to the U.S. just two years earlier at the age of 11 and, I was having a hard time dealing with the cultural differences, including the language which I did not speak well. Kids, being kids, would often make fun of me for a variety of reasons. And I would lash out and fight them every time. During one of those fights, Mr. Z intervened. His intervention might have gone very much like all the ones before, but Mr. Z had two supper powers: He spoke french, and he actually gave a flying f@#k. After stopping the fight, he invited me into his classroom and spoke to me. And, for the first time since arriving in the U.S., someone heard me when I was talking to them. He did not try to blame, correct, or change my perspective of the event. He simply listened. Read More>>
Hershel Castleberry
Honestly, the kindest thing anyone has ever done for me is believe in me. I don’t think you know how good that feels as a person to have someone believe in you. the sad part is more often its the people that have known you for ages and watch you grow that will not believe in you or support you. Read More>>
Michael
The kindest and most thoughtful act which was done for me professionally was when Carmelita Brunetti, Editor in Chief of ArtonWorld: International Magazine of Art & Finance, wrote a breathtaking critical review about my work. The reason why the essay was so significant was because I have never had someone study or even appreciate my art even near the same level in which she did. The article is quite detailed, indicating she took the time to read the written passages inside my assemblages and even watch my film Beasts of the Abyss carefully. She first and foremost described my work as conceptual and advancing the artform of documentary with descriptive analogies. Read More>>
Caitlin Cecil-Sykes
The kindest thing you can do for anyone is love and support them. I genuinely feel like the more people you have in your corner as cheerleaders, the better off you are. When I decided to get my MBA, my husband, Tim was my biggest cheerleader and supporter. When I thought that a multi format fitness studio might do well in Cleveland, Ohio, he encouraged me and lifted me up. Tim used words like “I know you can do this,” and “I know it will be a success.” Read More>>
ClaudeLee Johnson
Kindness doesn’t come from a solitary dramatic gesture in my life. Kindness is a gift given over a period of time. It shows up as quiet encouragement and honest conversations with the people who wholeheartedly care about me. It’s a gift of encouragement and affirmation when I’ve needed it, especially when things were difficult or not as they seemed. Read More>>
Kevin Secundino
Sometimes life gives us a second chance and we have to take advantage of it. After my accident I changed sports, forced to do so because of my disability, but thanks to that I discovered a passion. Read More>>
Travis Chapman
The Kindest thing ANYONE has ever done for me is Be WHO They Are. By them Being Who they are, it allowed Me to choose who I Preferred to Be. As Everyone is inherently Unconditional Love, the encounters I’ve had in Life are always an opportunity to be more of who I am, wether they Are Being Authentically who They Are and are in Love with it Or they are Not; When someone is not aware of Their worth and Who they are and they may be Creating from their fears and Insecurities and illusioned Sadness, they may love you in a way that you do not deserve. In experiences when that does happen I Thank them, because I KNOW Who they Actually are As Love, but they Have given me an opportunity To Choose to be More of WHO I am, and Ground Myself More in Unconditional Love. So I Thank Everything & Everyone that Creates an Opportunity to be more of Who I Authentically Am as Unconditional Love, And That is the Kindest thing Someone & Something can Ever Do. Read More>>
Dan Sollaccio
The kindest thing anyone has ever done for me involves a gift I received when I was graduating from college in June 2024, but this requires some background information.
Throughout my time at DePaul University, I found myself frequently using this one, silly character I had designed around when I was a freshman. I named him Lil’ Somethin’. I would use him in animation assignments, doodle him on whiteboards around campus, and sometimes include him in my signature. A lot of people ended up loving the character, which I’m really grateful for! Read More>>
Shequeta Smith
I had only been in Los Angeles for about a year when I signed up to be a seat filler at the 2005 NAACP Image Awards. My friend Natasha and I showed up dressed like Hollywood royalty and were stunned to be seated in the front row—right next to Angela Bassett and Courtney B. Vance, and just a few seats down from Oprah, Gayle, and a rising political figure named Barack Obama (who received the Chairman’s Award that night), and his wife Michelle. Read More>>
Mohammad Shahhosseini
Great question! It’s hard to pick the single kindest thing anyone has ever done for me, but one small act of kindness that really stuck with me happened while we were traveling in Presidio County, Texas, for a short documentary project. After a few long, exhausting days of filming, we were back at the airport getting ready to fly out. I remember my colleague Tom calling me and saying, “Hey Mohammad, which gate is yours? I’ve got something for you!” Read More>>