How small moments of kindness can help us feel less alone
When I was a child, I couldn’t fathom how anyone could be sad at Christmas. Gifts under the tree, no school, family gatherings, tons of chocolate and candy—what the heck was not to like? Fast forward to my adulthood and the proverbial light goes on.
Thankfully, we’ve come a long way in recognizing the holiday season isn’t joyful for everyone. These days, we talk more openly about grief, loneliness, financial stress, family pressures and mental health, as well as the expectations that can make an already difficult time of year feel even heavier. While it’s encouraging to know these conversations are becoming more common, there’s still plenty we can do to apply that awareness to the way we lead, work, connect, and show up for one another.
One place to start is by checking in with people around you while making space for honest answers. We tend to ask, “How are you?” almost automatically, particularly during a busy season, but there’s a real difference between asking and being prepared to listen. You don’t need to have the perfect response or know how to fix what someone is going through. You can simply listen, offer a little more grace, and acknowledge a colleague who seems distracted, a customer who is less patient than usual, or a friend who turns down an invitation may be dealing with something you know nothing about.
For employers and business leaders, the holiday season provides an opportunity to think about how to create connections in your workplace. Festive lunches, parties and traditions can be wonderful ways to bring people together, but they won’t feel celebratory for everyone. Culture, family relationships, finances, grief, and personal circumstances can all impact the way we experience the season. Offering different ways to engage, being mindful of the traditions and language we use, and respecting an individual’s choice not to participate can help foster a sense of belonging without adding another obligation to an already full or difficult time of year.
Now here’s the best part: creating that sense of belonging doesn’t always require a grand gesture. A thoughtful message, a genuine thank you, an offer to help, an invitation for coffee, or simply telling someone you’re thinking about them may feel small, but it can mean a great deal. That’s what we’ve learned from the Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia’s annual Message of Kindness campaign. It invites Nova Scotians to share messages of hope, compassion, and encouragement during the holiday season. It’s a simple way to remind others they are seen, valued, and not alone.
Over the years we’ve received hundreds. Just breathe. Take one moment at a time. You are stronger than you think. You are loved. You are enough. All of them amplify community, compassion, and connection. Simply stated, handwritten words capable of conveying so much.
None of us can know exactly what another person is carrying, but we can pay attention to how we show up for one another—in our workplaces, our communities, and our everyday lives. A small moment of kindness or compassion won’t solve what someone is going through, but it can make a difficult time feel a little less lonely. And what’s not to like about that?
You can send or receive a Message of Kindness at:
