Sometimes people think kind people are weak. Maybe it is because they look like they always give in, do not get angry, or do not talk back.
But real kindness is not weakness. It is the strength to care about another person's feelings while also caring about your own. Choosing words that do not hurt people takes strength.
Kindness is the power to notice
Noticing someone who is in trouble, looking at the other person's face, and choosing your words carefully. Kind people pay attention to what is around them. This is similar to reading the situation in a game or noticing an error in programming. A truly kind person does not erase themselves by saying, "Anything is fine." They help when someone is in trouble, and they also calmly say no when something feels wrong. They care about both others and themselves.
Kind people earn trust
Kindness is also a powerful skill when you grow up and work with others. People often want to talk to someone who listens, not someone who acts important. They want to work with someone who helps fix mistakes instead of only blaming others. That is why kind people often receive more trust, more requests for advice, and more work. People want to ask important things of someone they feel safe moving forward with.
Being kind does not mean accepting everything you dislike. Calmly saying, "I do not like that," is also kindness toward yourself. A person who can care about others and also care about themselves is truly strong.
Say one kind word to someone, or say one "good job" to yourself.
At Digital Kodomo BASE, we value kindness because it helps create a place where children can try new things with peace of mind. A kind person has the strength to move forward together with others.