Holiday Gifting: A Kindness Exchange

Where has all the kindness gone?

The past year has been filled with so much sadness, anger and divisiveness—no need to detail such here—and I think that many people have forgotten how important it is to simply be kind to one another, even when they disagree. Civility costs nothing, and respect is everything.

I think that when we take a closer look at what we all want out of this life, we are all far more alike than we are different. Everyone wants to feel like his voice is heard. Everyone wants to feel like she matters. Together, we can make basic human decency a priority again.

Over the next few months, in addition to their family gatherings, office colleagues, civic organizations and social clubs will get together to celebrate with holiday fare, eggnog, cocktails and festive music. Many will likely partake in the tradition of exchanging gifts, be they ornaments or Secret Santa or cookies.

But what if, instead of exchanging gifts, we all chose to exchange kindness?

Consider giving a card that includes a challenge for the recipient—a call to an act of kindness. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy. The challenge could be to drop off of cookies to local first responders, visit a senior center, or pay for the coffee of the next person in line at a favorite coffee shop. It could be a request to pen a letter to a family member or friend telling that person what makes him or her special. Or a secret gift on a neighbor’s porch.

I still believe that a little kindness goes a long way. After all, how many of us really need more ornaments, nick nacks or holiday scarves or ties?

The gift of kindness. There are few things greater.