As the summer starts, I have been thinking a great deal about how few summers we as parents have with our children. We only have one summer when they are infants, a few when they are toddlers, eight when they are children. The times I remember most from my childhood are the family activities done together in the times away from the routine of every day. When kindness is infused into those family activities, it makes them even more meaningful. Every summer is another opportunity to embrace this special, less-structured time we have with our kids, and a chance to enjoy the simple joys that a purpose-filled summer has to offer.

In May, many families are preparing for summer travel, mapping out routes, planning fun excursions and dreaming about time together as a family. What if, in addition to making plans for travel, we made plans for kindness as well? There is space for kindness to strangers and one another, generosity towards others, patience at stressful moments, and connection through new experiences. This summer, let’s make kindness part of the plan.

Trees actually communicate with one another through this vast network, responding to needs in the community of trees. Just like plants, I think people are interconnected in the way our kindness ripples outward to the world and to one another. As we think about Earth Day approaching, I am intrigued by how our kindness can mirror nature and how we can work together for the common good. 

Music is a powerful tool. The lyrics can help us teach children compassion, caring, acceptance, connection and even empathy. Research shows that music is stored in long-term memory, which means that even when other memories fail us we can still access the melodies and lyrics of beloved songs to find comfort. Combining social justice with music creates an even more powerful tool to spread kindness through our communities.

In these uncertain times, I am trying to hold fast to the notion that kindness matters. Research shows that even small acts of kindness make a greater impact than expected. So this year, I am trying not to diminish the little things that I can do. Kindness matters and every little act of kindness makes an impact.