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I learned something new this week…and I love when that happens. Who knew there was actually a name for something Aaron and I have been practicing for years? It’s called Rituals of Connection.

I’ve been thinking a lot about the inaugural k20 Kindness Without Borders Summit since returning home from Florida last month.

As someone who is spending much of my time speaking about kindness, leadership, connection, and culture, it was unbelievable to be surrounded by people from all over the world who are also doing this work.

Recently, I’ve been thinking that my unique lens on Kindness comes from my own Jewish culture.

On the Friday night of the k20 Kindness Without Borders summit, several of us were invited to the home of a wonderful couple. They hosted us for a special intimate dinner. As the 12 or so of us went around the table and shared our favorite take away from the first day of the Summit, I asked if I could make a Hebrew blessing,

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.