A JOURNEY TO KINDNESS
By Kasey James
"I bought the domain kindnessiscool.com in the year 2020, during a time when the world was gripped by challenges that tested our resilience and our humanity. Unsure of its purpose at the time, I got the idea to purchase the domain from a popular tee I had created a couple of years prior. The shirt featured a hand throwing up a peace sign with the words “Kindness Is Cool” encircling it. For a long time, these tees were my go-to gift, offering friends and family a pick-me-up or a simple “I’m thinking of you” gesture.
Like for many, the years following 2020 did not offer the respite I had hoped for. Life threw challenge after challenge my way, feeling like a relentless weight pinning me down at every turn. I couldn’t catch a break. I found myself trapped in a state of perpetual waiting, constantly anticipating the next bad thing to happen.
One of my challenges was running the screen-printing and embroidery business I owned, managing a retail store and being a landlord — all on my own. For the past three years, it felt like I was busting my butt just to keep the doors open. Making sure we didn’t go under was my main focus. There wasn’t much joy in running it. I had too much on my plate and nothing left in the tank to give this business the attention it needed so that it could start growing again.
Fast-forward to the end of 2023. I was sick and tired of passively experiencing life’s challenges and decided to actively start shaping my future. It started with my first act of kindness: self-care. For years, I was so focused on caring for other people that I failed to take care of myself. Self-care transformed my life — big time. It brought about the most profoundly positive changes in my well-being and my outlook on life. This path of self-care sparked some deep reflection and the beginnings of true growth. It forced me to confront my vulnerabilities and begin a journey toward healing.
It was through this process of self-reflection and recovery that the purpose of kindnessiscool.com — aka KIC — began to take shape. We had the original “kindness is cool” T-shirt, and I thought to myself, “What if we made an entire clothing line of kindness apparel? What if we could use the positive messages behind this merch to inspire acts of kindness?” I envisioned a platform that could extend the compassionate lessons I was learning beyond my own experience. KIC would serve not only as a reminder of the strength of kindness but would also actively demonstrate this message through real-life examples of kindness in action. Out of a dream emerged the vision for this platform: to inspire followers to make acts of kindness a regular part of their day-to-day lives.
Research consistently shows that acts of kindness not only benefit its recipients but are also deeply transformative for those who give. Performing acts of kindness can elevate our mood, improve our mental health and even have positive effects on our physical well-being. It also causes something c
alled the Ripple Effect. When someone experiences kindness, it often inspires them to pay it forward, igniting a chain reaction of compassion that extends far beyond the initial act. “Kindness is contagious!”
PAY IT FORWARD WITH KIC
Kindness begins with the understanding that we all struggle. Each month, we send out KIC Packs to kind individuals who have been nominated by a loved one. It’s one way we like to pay it forward — a small gift to someone who could use a little kindness sent their way. Each pack includes a KIC tee, a hat and stickers with a handwritten note to the recipient letting them know someone they loved nominated them for this gift. You can nominate a loved one on the KIC Gift page of our website!
In addition to nominating someone for a KIC Gift, folks have the option to purchase and gift any of the KIC apparel to someone they care about. Do you know someone who could use a little kindness sent their way?"
kindnessiscool.com
@KICMerch
Subscribe today and get a free kindness kit. Limited quantity.