On Tuesday, Feb. 17, while walking to NLD, the Northern Lights Dining, students came across a table celebrating Kindness Week sponsored by WellBeing and Counseling and Consultation Services. Placed on the table were affirmation cards, a wheel to spin that gave students ideas on how to spread kindness, and candy. There was also a photo opportunity where students could take a picture with the “kind” sign hanging on the wall.

“Today, we’ve got affirmation cards that you can take for yourself, and you can take a couple extra to hand them out to a roommate or to a stranger, if you’d like to,” Tina Menhennick, executive administrative assistant in the Counseling and Consultation Services Office, said. “We’ve also got a few pieces of candy, as sugar always makes everyone a little happier. We have a random acts of kindness wheel that you can spin to get some suggestions on random acts of kindness to perform this week. We also have our kind poster as well, where you can be the ‘i’ in kind.”

Kindness Week runs from Feb. 15 to the 22, helping students cultivate compassion for themselves and those around them.

“Kindness Week is a nationally recognized week that organizations recognize and participate in to spread awareness of being kind to others,” Menhennick said.

Students can help contribute to Kindness Week by helping out in their community through donating and volunteering, as well as through small acts of kindness such as complimenting others, holding doors open, or helping someone with their groceries. Menhennick went further into this:

“Be nice to other people and notice your fellow students. If they look like they’re struggling, reach out. Be kind to yourself as well. Get enough sleep, drink enough water, and make sure that you eat right, as well as you can while you’re a student, and balance your sleeping time with your study time,” Menhennick said.

Those who stopped at the table spun the wheel of kindness, grabbed a piece of candy and an affirmation card, and left on a positive note.