Kindness is being friendly, generous, and considerate toward others through helpful and intentional actions. It is closely related to altruism because both involve helping others without necessarily expecting an external reward.

Mark Twain is often credited with saying, “Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.” Whether through a simple smile, a helping hand, or a thoughtful word, kindness has the ability to cross barriers and connect us with one another.

World Kindness Day is observed internationally on November 13. In the United States, National Random Acts of Kindness Day is celebrated on February 17. These observances remind us of the importance of good deeds, compassion, and the positive power of caring for others.

One person who made kindness a central part of his life’s work was Fred Rogers, the beloved creator and host of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. The television program began in 1968 and became a powerful influence on generations of children and adults.

Mr. Rogers modeled kindness through his interactions with real people. Whether he was talking with a postman, visiting a neighbor, meeting a child, or discussing difficult emotions, he treated each person with respect and genuine interest.

Mr. Rogers once said, “It’s through relationships that we learn best and grow best.” His television neighborhood demonstrated that relationships are built through listening, understanding, patience, and caring.

The 2019 film A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, starring Tom Hanks as Mr. Rogers, provides another look at the man behind the television character. Hanks does an excellent job portraying Rogers’ quiet, patient, and compassionate nature.

What did kindness mean to Mr. Rogers?

First, kindness requires action rather than simply being nice. Saying polite words is important, but kindness becomes meaningful when it is put into practice.

Second, kindness goes beyond empathy. Empathy allows us to understand or feel another person’s emotions, but kindness asks us to take the next step—to do something helpful.

Third, kindness includes being kind to ourselves. We should give ourselves the same patience, understanding, and care that we try to give to other people.

Kindness also has important benefits. It can strengthen friendships by building trust, deepening social connections, and creating lasting relationships. Kindness can inspire others to behave kindly, creating a positive cycle that spreads from one person to another.

There can also be benefits to our own well-being. Acts of kindness and positive social interactions are associated with changes in brain chemistry and can contribute to improved mood and reduced stress.

So, how can we become better neighbors? We can:

• Do kind things, even when they seem small.
• Talk and listen intentionally, giving others our full attention.
• Help others—and be willing to ask for help when we need it.
• Work together to solve problems in our families and communities.

Mr. Rogers reminded us that although each of us is unique, we have much more in common than we sometimes realize. That may be one of the most important lessons we can teach our children as we help them grow into caring, compassionate, and generous adults.

Kindness does not have to be complicated or expensive. We can use kind words and give sincere compliments. We can help a neighbor, donate to a local charity, nonprofit organization, or food bank, or send someone a note of appreciation.

We can pay for someone else’s meal, serve coffee to people experiencing homelessness on a cold night, or pick up trash in our neighborhood. We can even make the extraordinary decision to become an organ donor and potentially save someone’s life.

The possibilities are endless.

Mr. Rogers taught us that kindness is more than an idea. It is something we do.

Perhaps his greatest lesson was that we do not have to change the entire world to make a difference. We can begin with the person standing next to us—with a kind word, a listening ear, a helping hand, or simply the willingness to care.

In Mr. Rogers’ neighborhood, kindness was not just something they talked about. It was a way of life.