Kindness Class

I find it funny that as the deadline for designism approaches, I find an excellent resource for social change in the kindness sector. On idealist.org you can find organizations, jobs and volunteer opportunities to help make positive change. I found that idealist’s blog was the most interesting part of the site.

The first post I read talked about kindness class, a class that focuses on exploring the satisfaction that comes from being intentionally kind. In 2009 a structured Kindness Class was offered and 14 assignments were given out to “students”. ( 1- Do something kind for yourself. 2- Do something kind for someone you love. 3- Do something kind for someone you do not know. 4- Provide something wonderful for someone to find. 5- What you wish to experience, do for another. 6-Do something kind for your body. 7- Let everyone go ahead of you for a week. 8- Do something kind in your neighbourhood. 9- Do something kind anonymously. 10- Do something useful. 11-Do something kind for someone with whom you’ve lost touch. 12- Take time to better understand the world and then translate that understanding into positive action. 13- Do something small. 14- Do something kind for yourself.)The students completed the assignments then thought critically about how it changed their outlook on the world. A newer version of the class began two weeks ago, each week there is a post made on the Kindness Theme of the Week blog. Week one’s theme was “What do you wish to experience, provide for another” and this week’s was “Prioritize happiness.” The hope is that by the end of the week, readers will post what they accomplished, encouraging others to do the same.

If everyone keeps this goal of kindness in mind, I think things could start to change. Hostility and rudeness are generally unnecessary; there are better ways to deal with differences that are much more respectful.