A call for kindness

FigureIf I had a New Year's resolution for society, it would be a commitment to kindness. Behaving in a kind manner is easy, but civility is fast becoming a lost skill and ability for many. We are inundated with accounts of violence, threats, anger, and bullying in the media because these behaviors are considered newsworthy. Simply driving on the road or taking public transportation subjects us to encounters with rude or aggressive travelers who pose a threat to public safety. Then consider the health care work environment that should be a place of healing but can be fraught with negative behaviors from some coworkers, patients, and leaders. Regularly contending with difficult people who behave badly is draining and can derail an otherwise good day. Though these incidents may be outside our control, we can make the effort to change the energy within our sphere of influence. Kindness is a choice. Too many people ignore that choice and settle for ways of relating that are dismissive, rude, or hostile. They may justify such behavior by pointing to problems in their lives or believing that being kind is somehow a sign of weakness. I have worked with a few highly skilled nurses who used hostility to control others in an attempt to maintain a sense of personal power. Conversely, this type of power is perverse and results in low morale, staff turnover, and a poor work culture. Leaders must intervene in these situations, set behavioral expectations and stand by them, even if it means terminating employment if the problem behavior continues. Being an experienced or skilled nurse does not bestow an automatic pass to act badly. Kindness is not weakness. It is the strength to show caring in a moment that matters. Kindness requires the empathy to perceive a need, choose how to respond, and take an action that might just help to restore someone's faith in humanity. Showing kindness does not have to be difficult or time-consuming. It is saying thank you with sincerity. It is holding the door for the next person to enter and being courteous. It is checking in with a coworker after a challenging situation and offering support or encouragement. Kindness may not always be reciprocated, but it can shift the energy in a positive direction and change the tone in someone's day or perhaps their life in ways we may never know. Kindness engenders good feelings. Let us do our part to make the world a kinder place. Happy New Year! LINDA LASKOWSKI-JONES, MS, APRN, ACNS-BC, CEN, NEA-BC, FAWM, FAEN, FAAN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, NURSING2026