Category: Be Kind

You know what’s better than one third-grade boy in the back seat of your car? Three third-grade boys in the back seat of your car.

In the course of a 15-minute ride, my son Ben will ask at least 150 questions, including, “Mom, does Area 51 really exist?” “Mom, do you think there will be flying cars in my lifetime?” “Mom, ... Read More

Are you sick of winter yet? I know. Stupid question.

I’m in Ohio, so we’re seeing promises that spring will indeed arrive, but I remember all too well the 10 winters we lived in Fargo. Even if there are signs of new life, another cold spell comes blasting in and March feels like the dead of winter.

People are crabby. Everyone is ... Read More

My kids had a few special baby sitters when they were little, and Desire’e Larson was one of them. We’ve moved away and the kids have gotten older, so it’s been awhile since we’ve been in touch.

I got a message from Desire’e recently and I wasn’t surprised to find that the Larson family is still spreading kindness. She sent me ... Read More

Would you rather have 100 casual acquaintances or one special friend?

It’s a no-brainer, right? We all long to have someone special in our lives. But that can be tricky when the world only sees your disabilities.

Ciera Ball is mostly nonverbal, was diagnosed with autism and has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). That can be a tough combination when forming attachments ... Read More

I often say I have the happiest email inbox in the world. Every once in a while, I’ll also get a handwritten letter in my real mailbox explaining how someone is adding light to the world through kindness.

I’ve received the sweetest stories of kindness. Despite what you might see on the television, there is good in this world, no doubt ... Read More

I can’t remember the exact year, but I remember the date: Dec. 31, New Year’s Eve.

Saul and I were living in a little house in north Fargo and Jordan was a baby. It was teeth-chattering cold outside, because that’s what winter in North Dakota is like. On this particular night, we were all cozy in bed until about 2 o’clock ... Read More

Andy Smallman is a go-getter. He’s a teacher, and when he realized he didn’t like the way schools were educating students, he started a new one.

It’s been up and running in Seattle since 1994. But Andy isn’t just a go-getter — he’s a go-giver, too.

“Let me start by saying I’ve got this thing for the number 143 and have for ... Read More

Have you felt it? That overwhelming need to dispose of all clutter now that the holidays are over?

I’ve cleaned out one closet and have about seven more to go. I’m clearly not the only one feeling it, because I got a letter from a woman in Wisconsin whose need to downsize meant an upswing in kindness.

“I was in purge mode ... Read More

My friend lost her dad just days after Christmas. I’ve never been in a situation where I needed to console a friend after a parent’s death, so I was on new ground.

Am I talking too much or too little? Am I loving her in the way she needs to be loved or in the way I would want to be ... Read More