The Return to Sender

There is a strange ego in always wanting to be the one who gives. We like the feeling of being the helper, the strong one, the person with the answers. But part of being kind is also being a good receiver. When you refuse help, you are actually denying someone else the joy of being kind to you. You are closing a circuit that needs to stay open for the world to function properly.

As we move through National Kindness Week 2026, I am challenging myself to say 'yes' when someone offers a hand. Whether it is letting someone help me carry a heavy box or accepting a compliment without deflecting it, receiving is an act of humility. it admits that we are all interdependent. It acknowledges that I am not an island and that I need other people to survive and thrive.

When we receive with grace, we validate the giver. We show them that their kindness was successful. Have you ever tried to do something nice for someone only to have them brush it off? It feels a little bit like a rejection. By simply saying 'thank you, I really appreciate that,' you are completing the act and making the other person feel seen. It is a secondary form of kindness.

Think about where you might be blocking the flow of kindness in your life. Are you too proud to ask for a favor? Do you feel guilty when someone treats you? Try to let go of that weight. Allow yourself to be supported. In doing so, you create a culture where it is okay to be vulnerable. That is where real community starts—in the back-and-forth of needing and helping each other.