Celebrate World Kindness Day with one small act at a time

The Kindness Factory is changing communities across Australia, with one small act at a time.

Kath Koschel, the founder of Kindness Factory Global, is on a mission to make the world a better place.

And charity begins at home, in our own backyard.

So far, Kath has raised almost half a million dollars for charity organisations and was even the recipient of the 2016 Pride of Australia Medal for showing courage in the face of extreme adversity.

I mean, pretty impressive, right?

Kath recalls that living her dream of playing cricket for NSW came to a screeching halt at 23 when she suffered a debilitating spinal injury on the pitch.

She credits the kindness of strangers who helped her survive this tumultuous time.

“I’ll never forget finishing up an appointment at rehab one day after being told that there was a very high possibility that I would never walk again. I was crushed. And to make matters worse, as I wheeled myself towards the elevator to get down the stairs, I realised that I couldn’t reach the lift button. It was just out of reach, a matter of millimeters. ‘Is this the struggle I'll have for the rest of my life, I thought to myself,” she said.

“I had my head in my hands, almost defeated with tears close to the surface and not wanting to face the world. Until I heard the ping of the elevator, raised my head and realised that the stranger walking off into the distance had seen my struggle and cared enough to press the button on the way through to where they must have been going. It lifted me, and as I carried on my way I realised that his act was more than just pressing that button for me. It gave me hope and made me realise that I was not alone. That’s how powerful kindness can be”.

Following her accident in November 2015, the former cricketer launched her non-profit, inspiring one million acts of kindness.

And she’s just getting started.

Kath’s Kindness Factory Global continues to grow, with Kath rallying communities and schools while aiming to make kindness the norm.

This World Kindness Day, we can all celebrate and lead with kindness, helping to overcome the divides of politics, race, religion, gender, and so much more.

What better way to embrace this idea than with genuine acts of compassion that could bring a spark to someone’s day?

Kindness Factory Global promotes grand gestures via their Public Kindness Announcements featuring big, bold, eye-catching, and thought-provoking messages encouraging people to lead with love and attentiveness to those around them.

So whether you’re paying for someone’s weekly shop, cooking a meal for someone struggling right now or donating some books to your local library, there are many ways to spread this important message.

So, this November 13, remember to radiate kindness with small gestures that could make a world of difference. Get excited and start making kindness the norm. For more information, head here.