Creating a community of kindness

Karli Strom - News and Opinion Editor

Monmouth College Spiritual Life held its first Week of Kindness Fair last Thursday, following a weeklong scavenger hunt leading up to the fair. Fatima Gutierrez, a Spiritual Life intern, said: “Our goal for this was to raise awareness of not just being kind to ourselves but to our friends and our colleagues.” 

Practicing acts of kindness on yourself and others can be simple. “I think the easiest act of kindness that I do probably on a daily basis is smile. Give everyone a smile and ask, ‘How are you?’,” said Gutierrez, “people see you and don’t know if they want to talk to you, but just by smiling it’s acknowledging their presence and giving them a sense of belonging.”

Throughout the week, there was a scavenger hunt where students could win prizes such as Dairy Queen gift cards, a free Dame Fine Coffee drink, Amazon gift cards, and, at the end of the week, win a self-care gift basket at the Kindness Fair.

At the fair, there were tables focusing on how to be kind to yourself, sponsored by the Mental Health Peer Educators and the Champion Miller Center for Student Equity, Inclusion, and Community. “It’s kind of a time to kick back and relax and ask, ‘How are we being kind to ourselves and how are we making sure we are taking care of ourselves?’,” said Gutierrez, “while also taking care of those that love us.” 

The event included friendship bracelet making, fidget toys provided by Monmouth College Spiritual Life, and a discussion of tips on practicing self-care. “Recreation, journaling, just checking up on yourself and your mental health,” said Gutierrez, “taking a break every once and a while, that’s really how you take care of yourself.”