Kindness is not a rare commodity, neither is being respectful or courteous. You do not need to save it up for special occasions. It is self-replenishing. The more it is used, the more it grows. Be kind to one person, and they are more likely to be kind to the next, and so on and so forth.
Kindness begets kindness.
You never know what battle another warrior is fighting, and thus The Guild advocates kindness. But being kind does not mean being everybody’s friend, being a people pleaser, or continuously ignoring your needs or wants in lieu of another’s. It does not mean being kind to absolutely everybody, regardless of circumstances. There are always exceptions to the rule, and some individuals give up their right to be treated with kindness the moment they intentionally and willing harm others.
Being kind means not humiliating others, not criticizing in public, not making snide remarks or false accusations, being dishonest, or spreading gossip. Being kind means forgiving both yourself and others for their imperfections, mistakes, and errors in judgement. Being hospitable, tolerant, amicable, considerate, empathic, and gentle.
Being kind is considered a virtue in Buddhism, Sikhism, and Christianity. We feel good when others are kind to us. Not only is kindness good for the recipient, but the giver. Those who practice kindness tend to feel a sense of happiness and satisfaction.
Kindness does not require any special skills or a big bank account. Acknowledging those who greet you, responding in turn, and smiling, is the simplest of kind acts. Helping another carry a heavy load, leaving a tip, expressing gratitude through handwritten cards, and providing feedback when you see good work done are other small ways you can show kindness. Kindness begets kindness, and if we all act that little bit kinder towards one another, maybe we will all be that little bit happier.
The Warrior-Womxn's Guild 
Hey fellow warrior!
I totally agree! Kindness is free, and it definitely makes the world a better place. I do have a question for you. Do you think there is a selfless good deed? Do you think altruism is possible?
Sending good vibes from Manila. ❤
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Hey warrior! Welcome to The Guild!
We’re feeling those good vibes and are now sending our own back to you some 3,400 miles across the globe!
Interesting question. Is altruism possible? By definition, altruism refers to the act of doing something for another, that contributes to the recipient’s wellbeing, without the doer benefitting. Yet, acts of kindness make us feel good. When we do something kind for another, it activates the reward centre of our brain. We benefit by getting a hit of dopamine. Thus, I think it comes down to intent. Is the individual being kind because they feel obligated? Are they being kind to avoid feelings of guilt? Do they expect to gain something in return? If so, then I would not call the behaviour entirely selfless or altruistic.
Flipping the coin: is the giver genuinely concerned for the recipient? Are they acting to alleviate the suffering of another? Does the individual lose something by giving to another? If so, then the deed is altruistic.
You may have heard the adage: give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day; but teach him how to fish, and you feed him for life. Maimonides, a Jewish philosopher from the 12th Century, stated that there are 8 levels of giving. The highest level being acts which enable another person to become independent. This may include such kindness as: finding them a job or providing them with a grant. The second level is acts wherein neither the giver nor recipient are known to each other. These are our anonymous donors who do not seek any recognition for their kindness. If you read our recent article on human needs, you may recall that we all have a need for esteem. Some donors thrive on being able to say how much they gave away, especially if the amount is bigger than most people can give. Remaining anonymous, by applying humility to the act, the behaviour is far more altruistic. It also enables the recipient to hold onto their dignity and not feel embarrassed in front of the giver.
What are your thoughts Sarah? Do you think altruism is possible?
Yours in kind, Rachel.
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Hey Rachel!
Where are you from?
I suppose as long as one helped another human being, it does not matter if the giver felt good about it. Otherwise, why even bother, right? I definitely prefer giving anonymously. Like you said, receiver gets to keep his or her dignity and if the giver feels good about it, then certainly well-deserved, in my opinion.
It is difficult to really think of a selfless good deed. Like Joey from FRIENDS said. Lol.
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Themyscira 😉
Human behaviour 101: we seek pleasure and avoid pain. We either want to feel good about ourselves, or avoid feeling bad about ourselves. This, in a nutshell, is why we bother to do anything.
I am unfamiliar with the Friends reference; but, yes, it is hard to think of any deed that is truly selfless! We tend to always gain something. Esteem, significance, joy.
At the end of the day, I would much prefer to be remembered for being kind, than for any material accomplishment or accolade.
Stay strong,
Rachel
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