On Thursday, 13th November 2025, we celebrate World Kindness Day.

Yes. Somewhere along the way, “acknowledging other humans as sentient beings with inner lives and challenges of their own” became optional. And so we have a day. A global reminder. Like Easter, but for basic emotional competence.

While contemplating whether to laugh or cry about this, I made some cards. Like the one in the picture of this post. And a few others. And I placed them at the Reception desk for you to take and write a line for someone who's made a difference in your life. A big one or a tiny one.

Kindness was never meant to be grand, performative, or photogenic.

It’s the small, unremarkable acts that matter. The quiet ones. The ones that rarely make it into college culture discussions.

• Like noticing when someone’s a bit off, and asking once more than is convenient.
• Like saying THANK YOU like you mean it, not like it’s punctuation.
• Like remembering the small detail someone told you three weeks ago.
• Like including the person who sits near the edge of the group conversation.

These are not just gestures of niceness, but of mattering. That the people around you are valued, and have value to offer.

And I don’t know about you, but most people - both student and staff - when I ask them to name something they’re proud of about themselves or like about themselves… they stall, deflect, laugh it off. 

Which is exactly why we need to remind each other.

So this year, for World Kindness Day, I've dropped some gratitude postcards at Emma's desk for you to take and write a word of apprecaition for someone.

Think: Who has made your life 2% easier, steadier, or more bearable lately? And what would it mean to tell them that?

Kindness is the behaviour.
Mattering is the impact.
And most of the time, it only takes one line.

Maike (•‿•)