Large social media companies want to disable our compassion. It would be easier to close our hearts completely. Outrage is the competitive advantage of the modern workplace. With the Omicron variant and the subsequent lockdowns in January 2021, we remained isolated. Social media made it seem like shelters, borders, and moats would be effective ways of insulating from the virus. In truth, these acts of kindness made us feel the sun on our skin again. We don’t need these acts of kindness to improve our homes. We need them to improve their compassion. I look to history to remind us of our evolved sense of kindness and the effect it has on civilization. I present thirteen examples of acts of kindness; acts of kindness that made people refuse to take screens as an answer.
Take, for example, a mother with a child in lockdown in Rural Ohio. After viewing the empty store shelves and feeling the pressure of an unfamiliar and unexpected budget, she was saved by a complete stranger. This was a pandemic story, a story from the European and American lockdowns. This moment in particular, was a saving kindness that functioned as an economic shock-absorber by depicting a class position of an ethereal value.
A Pilot’s Detour for a Dying Wish
Geoff Lyons, an Alaska Airlines captain, showed an ailing passenger a final view of his Alaskan hometown in 2019. He changed the flight path of the plane, making a low flyover of the small village while passengers cheered. The man died a few days later, but the flyover sparked a viral trend in video encouragement for pilots to take short path flyover detours. Aviation experts say these gestures also boost the morale of the staff. It reminds us how bending rules for kindness is often more healing than any regulation.
The Janitor’s Quiet Library Legacy
Luis Gonzalez, a janitor at a New York public library, worked nights to secretly curate and reorder books for disadvantaged schools. One dyslexic boy discovered a box of audiobooks that Gonzalez had donated. Years later, that boy became a bestselling author and credited the “magic shelves.” Gonzalez’s story, first revealed in the 2023 article, is a narrative of systemic kindness and work ethic. Gonzalez, an underpaid employee, kept a multitude of dreams alive while his superiors ignored him. It is a gentle reminder that actual power often lies in the unseen work.
The Homeless Man’s Wallet Return
In 2022, a London homeless man, named Joey, discovered a wallet with £2,000 in cash on a rainy street. Rather than keeping it, he managed to return it to the owner; a distressed college student who had been saving for tuition. Joey declined a monetary reward saying, “I’ve been there; losing hope hurts worst.” The reunion video had over a million views and resulted in temporary housing for Joey. Psychologists define this phenomenon as “prosocial behavioral reinforcement.” One kind act, as a model for society, demonstrates integrity.
Teacher’s Lifesaver
In the wake of and since the Parkland shooting, teachers like Sarah Klein have sought ways to lessen the emotional and psychological toll of the trauma inflicted by school shootings by establishing, of all things, “kindness corners.” Students have written uplifting notes (anonymously) and have learned to transform fear into solidarity. One kind note reached a suicidal teen, who later testified it saved her. Klein’s original work now practiced in more than 500 schools from Education Week. Klein’s work demonstrates, most poignantly, the simple truth that kindness acts as a mental health shield in the face of school shootings and violence.
The benefits of kindness speak for themselves. For one, see the table below summarizing the effects of kindness from positive psychology.
| Study/Source | Key Finding | Impact Measured |
|---|---|---|
| Harvard Grant Study (1938-2023) | Kind acts extend life by 5-7 years | Longevity via relationships |
| Random Acts of Kindness Foundation (2024) | Daily kindness cuts stress 23% | Cortisol levels in participants |
| World Happiness Report (2025) | Top kind nations rank happier | GDP-adjusted well-being scores |
Refugees Welcome in a Border Town
In 2024, a Polish border town greeted the influx of Ukrainian refugees with hostility as the town’s people flooded the Town of Refugees. Bakery owner Kasia Nowak, began the practice of giving away bread for free and it evolved into community potlucks. Friendship blossomed. One refugee family actually sponsored a local orphan’s education. Nowak’s initiative was even reported by the BBC. It became clear that kindness has the power to disarm xenophobia and build communities in spaces that have been divided by borders.
Symphony of Generosity
In 2025, a New York subway musician, Danny, gifted a song to a commuter who was grieving her mother, who sadly just recently passed away, and refused to accept payment, despite the commuter being broke. She was so moved to tears, that she started a subway performer fundraiser. The video went viral and reminded the countless viewers of the importance of kindness in public places.
Firefighter/Elderly Nursing Home Parade
Because of COVID restrictions, a Texas nursing home had to stop allowing visitors. The firefighters coordinated parades in front of the home so residents of the nursing home could celebrate their birthdays. One 95-year-old lady’s smile resulted in coverage across the nation and inspired more than 10,000 similar events. This showed that the compassion of first responders and their empathy could partner the younger generation with the elder generation.
Career Motivation
At a competitive tech firm, engineer Priya took the opportunity to mentor a junior, Alexis, who had been passed over for promotion. She not only helped him with coding tips, but also advocated for him and, in turn, secured the team lead position for herself. They captured the essence of kindness and encouraged their coworkers to acknowledge, appreciate and practice, the values of a non-zero-sum game.
“Service Above Self”
In 2023, a viral video showed that a man, while on a jog, provided service to a stray dog and by untangling the dog’s leash, and then went out of his way to buy dog food. This spontaneous act of kindness was the first of many similar acts for the dog. The dog eventually found a home. The participants also described a boosted sense of community connection. The ASPCA mentioned that offering kindness to animals would often spark a human connection.
Mrs. Patel’s Snowy Struggle
In the 2024 Chicago blizzard, Mrs. Patel, a retiree, was stuck with a covered walkway. Her neighbor, Jamal, started the rotation to help her out, and then the whole block pitched in to help with her walk. The effort saved her a hospital trip and then inspired the neighborhood to create a volunteer app to spread help. Collective kindness can create large safety nets from a small effort.
Stranded Traveler’s Airport Angel
During the Delhi monsoons of 2025, a family found themselves at the airport due to a flight delay and missing a connecting flight. Attendant Riya solicited passenger snacks and blankets to craft a makeshift bed, then initiated a donation drive to cover the family’s hotel. In appreciation, fellow travelers started a social media campaign to promote ‘kindness at the airport.’ Riya’s initiative provided a welcome relief to the overwhelming and impersonal design of international travel systems, making a connection to a fellow human being.
Riya’s act of a simple service kindness has become a pattern for the 13 documented acts of kindness. In a world where kindness is a conscious choice, snappishness is the default. These acts of kindness restore the loss that is the act of cynicism. Most likely your act or service kindness will make that person’s day, so the next time you’re about to snap, hold your tongue.
FAQs
Q1: Why does kindness matter now?
According to the 2025 WHO report, kindness improves mental health and combats the issuance of loneliness.
Q2; How to start small?
Try smiling at people or holding the door, simple and small acts.
Q3: Can kindness backfire?
Kindness can rarely backfire, and it’s sometimes a symptom of your own personal boundaries.
