Celebrate Seven Days of Kindness
Published on April 04, 2024
SevenDays® Of Kindness is back. We are on a mission to promote kindness and understanding at the Unified Government of Wyandotte County/KCK for seven days and into the future. While the suggested activities below are intended for UG staff, there are many great ideas that apply no matter where you work. We encourage you to share your acts of kindness with the social media hashtags: #BeTheRipple and #GiveSevenDays
EVERY ONE of us can show kindness. Being Considerate, Helpful and Thoughtful are core qualities of Kindness.
SevenDays® mission is to overcome hate by promoting kindness and understanding through education and dialogue. Follow @GiveSevenDays on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. . . for inspiration, encouragement, and compassion. We will also be sharing your acts of kindness on the UG social media channels.
Kindness costs nothing but gives so much. We are asking you to take the time to notice others around you . . . who can you be kind to today? Your words matter- speak kindly to someone who you notice needs it. Your actions matter- do something kind for someone that you notice needs it.
Kindness can positively change your brain. It boosts serotonin and dopamine which are neurotransmitters that give the feeling of satisfaction and well-being.
Starting next Wednesday, April 10, we ask you to intentionally kick off kindness week with others or with yourself. We will provide some examples for the day based on each day’s theme, but also for you to consider kindness throughout your year! Each day there will be a new theme to help us focus on kindness and understanding of differences in our workplace.
SevenDays® themes of Kindness are: Love, Discover, Others, Connect, You, Go, and Onward.
Ideas for Kindness
Wednesday, April 10: LOVE
Make it a day full of love.
What you can do:
Offer appreciation to your team by sending heartfelt messages, buying lunch, and recognizing the positive impact your colleagues and friends are having here at the UG!
Other ideas to show love:
- Write a small note to each family member and colleague to show them your appreciation.
- Show love to someone you miss by sending them a message of reconnection.
- Show your sincere attention and care.
24-7-365
Reach out to those you care about. Share the love and warmth in your heart all year.
Thursday, April 11: DISCOVER
Make a new discovery today!
What You Can Do
Learn something new about a customer or team member today.
Other Ideas to Discover
- Take time to learn about another religion, culture, or group of people that pique your curiosity. Research with your family.
- Look for similarities, differences, and discuss what surprises you.
- Facilitate activities that help them get to know each other on a deeper level.
- Discover someone or something new by googling a different political party, culture, religion, race, gender identity, or sexual preference.
24-7-365
Take time to broaden your worldview throughout the year.
Friday, April 12: OTHERS
Do an act of kindness for someone in need.
What you can do
Participate individually or as a team to give blood for the Battle of the Badges Blood Drive. Volunteer for the Sound the Alarm community canvas in Armourdale/Argentine and help the Kansas City, Kansas Fire Department and American Red Cross make our neighborhood homes safety with a FREE smoke alarm installation. Volunteer for an upcoming neighborhood clean-up.
Other Ideas
- Drop off needed supplies to an elderly friend or neighbor.
- Donate food to a nearby pantry.
- Take a token of appreciation to first responders.
- Anonymously put flowers on someone's desk.
- As a department, select a local charity as a recipient of time, talent or treasure from your team (department).
- Find “the other” in your workplace; through dialogue they can become friends. We have more similarities than differences.
24-7-365
Give of yourself to others. Learn about and embrace someone who is “an other” in your community throughout the year.
Monday, April 15: CONNECT
Take time to connect with people today.
What You Can Do:
Reconnect with the mayor! Mayor Garner will be returning to the office today. Please come by the Municipal Building Lobby between Monday, April 15 from 2:00 pm-2:45 pm for light refreshments and to say Hi to Mayor Garner and welcome him back! After his recovery process he would love to see and hear from you!
Other Ideas:
- Call a family member that you don't talk to often.
- Schedule a virtual family reunion.
- Have a virtual happy hour with friends and include someone you want to get to know better.
- Connect with old friends that you have lost touch with. Set up a coffee date to see how they have been recently.
24-7-365
Seek connections with new people and gather with family and friends throughout the year.
Tuesday, April 16: YOU
Do something good for YOU today.
For You
You have our permission to focus on yourself today. Do something that makes you happy!
Other Ideas
- Acknowledge that self-care is necessary for you and those around you.
- Taking care of YOU - mind, body and soul. Sign-up for an online meditation course or yoga class hosted by KCKPL.
- Encourage your clients and team members to take care of themselves today.
- Taking care of YOU is important for your mental wellness so take time to care. Don't forget we have a FREE fitness center for UG staff located at the Road to Wellness Clinic.
24-7-365
Take care of YOU - mind, body and soul all year long.
Wednesday, April 17: GO
Challenge yourself to engage in an outdoor activity.
For You:
If weather permits, take a walk or have lunch with your team outside.
Other Ideas:
- Breathing fresh air helps everyone feel better.
- Take a walk outside.
- Go on a bike ride.
- Make and enjoy a picnic.
- Team building activities.
- Do something kind that is outside your comfort zone.
- Even if it doesn’t go perfectly, you know you tried something new and were bravely kind.
24-7-365
Be active inside or take it outside throughout the year. A body in motion makes for a happy soul.
Thursday, April 18: ONWARD
Create an action plan for increasing kindness throughout the year.
For You
Join the KCKPD Peace Walk on Saturday April 20, 2024 at 5th and Washington Blvd at 10:45 am. It is a fantastic community event that brings people together and all staff are invited.
Other Ideas
- Discuss the importance of continuing onward with kindness.
- Commit to actions that make ripples of kindness in the world.
- Hold yourself and each other accountable.
- Discuss with each other: How has the SevenDays® week impacted your work?
- How will you continue to make the world a better place?
- Choose 1 kind thing to do each week.
24-7-365
Engage in our community by reaching onward and spreading kindness throughout the year.
Candygrams are back!
Stay tuned for an announcement about the sale of candygrams to share your appreciation with fellow UG employees.