Difficulty: Challenger (Level 2)
Have you ever thrown a pebble into a pond and watched it create slight movement in the surface, maybe in the shape of circles? Those rings are water ripples, and they start small but spread out quickly.
In the same way, one simple act of kindness can create waves of goodness. Those waves can reach far beyond what we can see. When we choose to be kind, we start a chain reaction that can touch many lives.
An example of someone who started a wave of goodness is Christian Bucks.
The buddy bench
When Christian was in his second year of primary school, his family was planning a move to Germany from the United States. At one of the schools they were considering in Germany, a bench on the playground caught his attention.
It was a special bench where any student could sit if they needed a buddy.
Christian and his family did not end up moving, but the visit sparked an idea. Christian thought his primary school in the US state of Pennsylvania could use a buddy bench. That way, children would not have to be alone without anyone to play with. They could sit on the bench, make friends and be included.
This small and simple act was a little like a pebble hitting water, spreading out ripples of kindness. This buddy bench initiative has travelled from country to country. You might have even seen it at a Hong Kong school.
A wave of goodness
You do not have to do something big to make a difference. For example, you can start your own ripple of kindness by inviting someone to play with you and your friends. You could help others carry something, like books, or open doors for someone holding heavy items.
Studies have shown that being kind to others can benefit our mental health and help us feel more connected to others.
So why not look for an opportunity to create a kindness ripple? You never know how far it might travel.
Christine Ma-Lau, founder and principal of JEMS Character Academy
