Kayla Yim 12/5/13
Sink or Swim Kicks Kindness Contest

By definition, the word ‘kindness’ is a behavior marked by ethical characteristics, a pleasant disposition, and concern for others. But like any word, its definition can be expanded into broader terms. As Mark Twain once said, “kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.” Kindness should be an idea that comes from the heart, not the brain; it should be something that you truly feel will make someone’s life even the slightest bit better. Remember in elementary school, all the teachers tried to instill good virtues to live by? As time progressed, people tend to forget that acts of kindness should still be carried with you as you mature. Kindness isn’t some ‘elementary school act’ that should only be followed as a young student; it’s important to know what the valuable things in life are. No matter how small the act of kindness is, someone will appreciate it.
My small act of kindness is really small, yet very important. It can do so many things, from brightening someone’s day to potentially saving someone’s life. It’s something that everyone does at least once a day, but not everyone knows the extent of what it can actually do for someone. A virtuous act of kindness could be something as small as a smile. Personally, I feel that a smile can give so much more than money can ever give. Wherever I am, I always try to have a smile on my face because it can brighten someone’s day. You never know what kind of day someone is having based on physical appearance and something as simple and easy as a smile can make them feel important. It may not seem like it, but it really can help someone have a better day. The best feeling is when you smile at someone and they return the smile; it shows that even if it was only for a second, you made someone else feel happy. You made their terrible day a notch better because of your smile. Remember, it takes more muscles to frown than to smile, so save your energy and flash your best smile. It can brighten someone’s day!