Kindness brings people together. It strengthens relationships and improves the quality of our lives at home, in school, the workplace and our community. When someone is kind, we feel happier and better about ourselves, and kindness to others brings the same reward! Kindness increases serotonin, a happy hormone, which helps to calm you and plays an important part in learning, memory, mood, sleep and health. Kindness also produces oxytocin, which increases self-esteem and optimism; together, these two hormones can reduce stress and anxiety. 

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Kindness is an important interpersonal skill and it can take courage and strength. It begins with opening your eyes to notice others. A kind word, a smile, opening a door can all be acts of kindness. Celebrating someone else's success, giving honest compliments, sending an email thanking someone, refusing to gossip, donating old clothing are all ways to practise kindness.