A small act of kindness is priceless. We should always be kind to the people around us because we will never know what they are going through. Sometimes, even the smallest things we do can make someone feel better or make their day a little easier. 

Kindness can have a huge impact on someone’s day, or even their life. The world can already be harsh, and many people struggle with everyday battles. 

For instance, based on data from the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH), 40% of young Filipinos aged 18-24 have mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety. Moreover, depression and anxiety are also among the leading mental illnesses among adolescents aged 10-19.

The AXA Mind Health Report stated that people aged 18 to 34 face high stress due to financial instability and job insecurity. 

However, these data only reflect some of the struggles people face. Beyond these, many Filipinos also deal with poverty, transportation problems, family conflicts, health problems, financial difficulties, cyberbullying, relationship problems, and many more. 

Given these silent struggles, we may never know what someone is going through. That is why we should choose empathy and compassion, because even a simple act of kindness can help ease someone’s struggles.

One example of kindness is having basic decency. It can be as simple as saying “thank you” when someone helps us, saying “please” when asking for something, apologizing when we make a mistake, speaking with kind words, and showing respect to all people, even if we do not know them. These things may seem small, but they show that we appreciate and value other people. 

We often see the lack of this respect in public spaces and online.

For instance, consider Ruel Arviola Catigan, an elderly artist whose sculpture was inspired by tennis star Alex Eala. His artwork received harsh comments online, which eventually led him to apologize for his work. 

While people are entitled to their opinions about art, we should be careful with how we express them. Criticism does not have to be hurtful; offering feedback with respect and a simple "thank you" for the effort put into honoring Alex Eala is more than enough to encourage rather than tear down.

We can also see this on TikTok and other social media platforms. When someone does not fit the “online standard,” people are quick to point out what they think is a flaw or wrong, especially their appearance, body, clothes, the way they act, or their mistakes. Sometimes, they forget that there is a real person behind the screen who also has feelings. 

Kindness does not cost anything, but its value can be priceless. A small act of kindness could mean a lot to someone who is having a difficult day. In a world that can already be harsh, choosing kindness is something we can all do.