18th CKY issue

Being Kind in the Primary Section
Some of our students and parents in the Primary section have reflected on how they can
be kinder in 2021, by making resolutions to be more caring and helpful. We hope
everyone will try hard to keep to their kindness resolutions throughout the year, and show
consideration towards other people in a variety of different ways.
Guess what I am selling you? You can call this an intangible cultural heritage. Well,
although it has been here since long, it is not so much a heritage, but a daily practice. But
wait, there is more --- it is one of the most sought after qualities people value. Good news
is, it is better than winning the lottery because it is priceless to receive. Are you buying
it?
If you are scratching your head, don’t worry, it is not limited to the promotional period.
This offer is good for the whole year. It is free to give out!!! Do you want it?
Deal, you got yourself a good deed of kindness.
Kindness comes from an old English word ‘kyndnes’. Back then, it means ‘nation’ and
the meaning evolves over time to what it is today --- being nice and friendly to others.
One might also relate this word to ‘kin’ which means family and/or relatives. The most
common thought that comes into our minds when we think of kindness is probably being
kind to people whom we are related to. Yet, there are also other tiers of kindness: (1) be
kind to yourself (would that be too selfish if you are only kind to yourself/or the like kind
of yours, but not to the others?); (2) be kind to strangers ( e.g Mother Teresa who have
voluntarily dedicated her whole life to strangers in need); (3) be kind to all living
creatures (not only to humans but to animals and plants).
When was the last time you were kind to others? When was the last time you received
kind gestures from the strangers. Did you say a simple ‘good morning’ to a stranger in the
morning that might have brightened up his/her day? Or have you been offered help from
a total stranger that might have saved your day? How about donating blood?
“Kindness is spreading sunshine into other people’s lives regardless of the
weather” (RAKtivist). Kindness has a cyclical effect, it echoes and butterflies to a new
level when one starts showing kindness to the people around them.
Mother of
Julian Chang 5F
What goes around comes around. Who knows, maybe your random act of kindness might
one day wing its way back to you. Let’s start with raising your head with a shiny smiling
beam after reading this article and start giving people next to you the good old freebie.
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