Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910) was a Russian novelist that lived a privileged life, and, yet, felt an emptiness and a loss of faith about humanity and its unfairness towards its social classes. In a yearning to understand its complexities, he found quite the opposite, its simplicity. No matter how hard the peasant farmers worked, he observed an unwavering strength to fulfill their existences no matter their circumstances. They accepted death because of their profound faith, and they had a sense of freedom he lacked because of the anxieties they escaped by having little to lose.
Tolstoy further realized that you can't just see society as a whole as it has to be made up of individuals first. Each person has their own vital part to contribute, comparing it to how the human body is made up of trillions of cells.
Through observing the common bond the peasants had and how it guided the way they treated each other, he realized kindness was the basis of their simple foundation and it guided them to their own form of hope and happiness that he had never seen before among his wealthy and unkind counterparts.
Fast forward to now, we know through extensive research that kindness is not only beneficial but has the ability to transform the mind, body, and even our relationships when practiced and applied. Seen as an antidote to anxiety and stress, it boosts our mental and physical health by combating feelings of loneliness, reducing cortisol levels, lowering blood pressure, and fostering greater empathy and compassion.
Beyond ourselves, it has the potential to create positive interactions and connections in society too which grows stronger communities by deepening our relationships and encouraging others to do the same.
Each act of kindness, whether it's donating to charity, volunteering, participating in community events, or even just opening a door for a stranger or giving a compliment, makes a real and significant difference.
As a parent who focused on kindness and who has seen and felt firsthand the many ways it has nurtured our family's lives and relationships, I say let's not just raise nice kids but kind kids. If you lay the foundation, set the example, and provide encouragement and opportunities, you will witness and benefit from the results. When started and practiced early, it is more likely to adhere and continue into adulthood.
Can you imagine how profoundly different our world would be right now if all of us had kindness prioritized as a principal component in raising children?
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