I have a strong belief in being kind and charitable to others, with a sense of urgency to use this borrowed time with purpose. Our school, community, and lives will be changed for the better.

Have you ever been lonely, hurt, or in pain? Mentally and emotionally exhausted? Or the more straightforward question: have you ever needed help? The answer is most definitely yes. My opinion piece is on the importance of being kind and full of charity, and starting now. Constant and consistent kindness requires the difficult task of choosing to be kind when the opportunity presents itself, which it will many times. No one here on earth can fit the exemplary mold of being “perfect”, but we all can try to do better. Kindness is a gift we may have difficulty sharing with others because of grudges, prejudice, laziness, neglect, and reasons we strongly believe exempt us from the “chore” of being kind. We are all at fault when kindness is not given when we could have given it. “If not me, then who?” Kindness can bring someone happiness, but it can also bring you the joy of serving another. Indeed, you cannot control what someone will do with your kindness; you cannot control their reaction to it. Be kind anyway, you will not regret it. Everyone has experienced needing help, needing a little kindness to get us through the week, the day, a moment where we feel utterly lost. Did we not wish for gentle aid?  Let us learn and remember through our moments of trial that all are in need of help and kindness of some form, and we can be the ones to give it. Kindness is a gift, a practice, an act of helping one another up. Kindness and charity are words, tone, and thoughts we say, hear, and think all day; being able to shift an unkind focus to a kind one is a difficult task that requires consistent effort. I invite you to put in that effort until it is habitual to give a compliment, to receive one, to offer to hold the door, to text someone and tell them how much they mean to you, to surround yourself with kind media, and to hold your tongue when cruel words form. Start now, try today, do not live a life of regret, and put in the effort to be kind. A wise person named Clare Pooley once said, “In a world where you can be anything, be kind.”