Hello everyone, I’m Ray Yenkana. This week, I decided to take a step back from the hustle and bustle of daily life and focus on something that often gets overlooked in our busy world: intentional kindness.

I started doing a few acts of kindness this week as prompted by Mark. It began with something simple; I picked up some special mini muffins for the people at my office. It was a small gesture, but they were very appreciative.

On Wednesday, during our monthly meeting, I decided to take it a step further. I brought two very nice leadership books by John Maxwell and held a draw, giving them away along with two bottles of wine.

Seeing the smiles on my colleagues’ faces reminded me that these “small, unspoken gestures” often leave the deepest marks on our lives.

Beyond the office, I met an old friend who was visiting from out of town. He didn’t need a gift or a grand gesture; he just wanted to visit and have someone hear his latest life journey. It made me realize that listening is an act of kindness in itself.

This is beautifully illustrated in a story I read recently about a teacher, Mr. Sterling, who gave a leather-bound journal to a student who struggled with the truth, telling them they had a gift for “building worlds” and encouraged them to start writing for themselves instead of lying to others.

Sometimes, saving someone’s voice is the greatest gift you can give.

As I looked deeper into current acts of kindness reported in the news, I was struck by how much “everyday magic” is happening around us.

For instance, I was moved by the story of a Zomato delivery agent in India who arrived at a home for a routine drop-off only to be greeted by a family who had prepared a birthday cake for him.

They even asked him to take off his work jersey and be their “guest” for a moment to honor his humanity. This kind of “quiet kindness” is what holds the world together.

I’ve also been watching some incredible videos of random acts of kindness that really put things into perspective. In one, a man sees a woman who is dehydrated and hungry and brings her a steak burger and fries just to make her smile.

In another, a gentleman at a grocery store checkout simply says, “Hold up, let me pay for that for you,” to a complete stranger. These moments remind us that you never know what a little act of kindness will do for someone, and it’s always a good idea to “pay it forward”.

Kindness also means noticing what someone needs before they even ask. I was particularly touched by the story of a gym teacher who noticed a student’s shoes had holes in the soles.

He called the student into his office and gave him brand-new sneakers, claiming they were “left in the locker room” months ago and even scuffed the bottoms so the student wouldn’t feel embarrassed.

He didn’t want a thank you; he just wanted the child to be able to run without pain.

Similarly, a librarian named Mr. Henderson noticed a student being bullied and made them an official “Library Aide,” telling them that “books are quieter than people” and providing a safe space to breathe.

These stories show that kindness isn’t just about giving things; it’s about solidarity. I saw a video of an entire team of high school students who shaved their heads to show support for a fourth-grader going through chemo.

They didn’t see it as a hard choice; they just wanted to show him he wasn’t alone. This kind of support can be a healing superpower when the world seems unfair.

Sometimes, kindness creates a massive ripple effect.

I read about a pastor who was filmed buying a meal for a homeless man. While he thought it was a quiet act of service, the story went viral, leading musician Phil Wickham to donate $5,000 to the church’s community programs. One small meal turned into a massive boost for an entire community.

It’s like Maggie, who started selling flowers at age five to save for a trip but ended up using her “Flower Power” to provide hundreds of toys for children in need and support local nursing homes.

Whether it’s a Starbucks barista learning English Sign Language on her own time to help a deaf customer feel seen, or neighbors performing a “porch concert” for students stranded in a snowstorm, these acts prove that kindness is a choice we make every day.

We can choose to be a “guardian angel” for someone else.

This week has taught me that whether I’m giving out muffins, books, or just an ear to a friend, I am participating in a global movement of humanity.

As one source noted, the only thing more amazing than a near-perfect shot is the support teammates give each other. We are all on this planet together. Let’s continue to be the wind beneath each other’s wings.