Noticing how a small, quiet act of kindness can have a lasting effect on the person who receives it.
Thinking about how the kindness we experience can shape who we become and how we treat others.
Exploring different ways to show kindness, including actions that are done quietly and without recognition.
A young boy is in a supermarket queue with his family when they cannot afford to pay for a birthday cake for their grandfather. A stranger behind them in the queue notices what has happened and quietly buys the cake for the family. He leaves a note with it. The boy watches this happen and is clearly moved by what the stranger did. The film moves back in time to when the stranger was a little boy whose family could not afford a cake for his birthday. A man paid for his cake. Back in the present time, and through the notes, we make the connection that the stranger who first bought the cake, and the grandfather, are the same person. Emphasising that kind acts do come back to us.
• What did you notice about how the stranger reacted when he saw the family could not pay?
• Why do you think the boy held that memory for so long?
• How do you think the family felt when they received the cake?
• Has someone ever done something kind for you that you have not forgotten?
• The man in the film did not know the family he helped. Does kindness feel different when it comes from a stranger?
• What is one small act of kindness you could do for someone this week?
• If someone did something kind for you today, what is one way you might pass that feeling on to someone else?
The questions within this guide are designed to open dialogue and facilitate discussion around the relevant topics. It is up to the user to adapt as needed to best suit the person they are supporting. A neuroaffirming approach was central to the design of these resources and remains essential to their application. This means recognising and respecting the diverse ways people think, communicate, and experience the world, ensuring all conversations are led with curiosity, respect, and without judgement. These resources are a starting point. Trust your knowledge of the person you are supporting to shape the conversation from there.
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