If you don’t know my work or how I became the Kindness Catalyst, here’s a little of that story.
My father and I had a challenging relationship. When I learned he was dying of lung cancer in 2006, I was 38 and still felt like I was 16 in his eyes. We healed our relationship prior to his death. I performed 1000 mitzvahs (act of kindness) to honor him.
Have you ever worked somewhere that just didn’t feel kind?
Perhaps people in the organization didn’t feel very well connected. No one took the time to learn about each other, maybe because they didn’t have time or possibly because they didn’t really care. Maybe no one said anything outright rude, but people seemed tired and overwhelmed constantly. Over time, that kind of environment wears people down.
Now think about the opposite.
A place where people feel seen. Where someone notices your effort. Where leaders take the time to say thank you or ask how you’re really doing.
That difference isn’t small. It changes everything.
Every living being needs rest. We feel like we’ve been conditioned to power through exhaustion instead of honoring it. Choosing to hibernate or take sabbatical in December felt perfectly in line with the natural world.
So what did I do on sabbatical?
I gave myself permission…
During World Kindness week, I got a call from a USA Today reporter asking for my thoughts on a new California neighborhood, Silverwood, where every new resident is invited to sign a Kindness Pledge.
What if kindness at work isn’t just about being “nice” but about building stronger teams, improving performance, and creating workplaces people actually want to be part of?
Kindness isn’t just healing. It’s powerful. It’s practical. It’s sustaining. And it belongs in our workplaces.
Some weeks, like the one I recently spent in Vermont and Pennsylvania, leave you full in the best possible way.
In the fast-paced, high-pressure work environments of today, acts of kindness often seem like a luxury. Yet, as I’ve shared countless times as The Kindness Catalyst, kindness is no longer just a “nice to have” trait in the workplace—it’s a critical ingredient for thriving organizations.
Whether leading a team, running a business, or managing client relationships, one simple question can make a huge impact: What can I do to ensure people aren’t left guessing?