Being kind inspires kindness. I repeat, being kind inspires kindness in others. Let’s put it this way. When a person holds the door for you and smiles warmly, it’s rarely impossible not to reciprocate. It’s satisfyingly contagious and it genuinely makes us feel good, period.
The best thing about being kind is that it has no limits, to people, animals and even to Mother Earth. It’s a way for humanity to take back… well… our humanity. We, as individuals can lead by example and maybe, just maybe, those who lead our communities, organisations, and countries will follow suit, showing that in the end, all that really matters is how impactful being kind is. Here are some easy ways to start being kinder to our surroundings. They take no extra investments, just conscious mindset shifts, and purposeful interactions.
- Clean Up Your Act
Are you a beach type of person? You’ve probably noticed the disheartening fact that most beaches are strewn with litter and trash. Whether it’s from people leaving behind plastic bottles or cigarette butts washing up on the shore. it’s never a good feeling to see our favourite beach is almost completely covered in trash and debris. But guess what? You, yourself have the power to make an impact and be one of the practical solutions to the problem. If you’ve ever had any desire to help keep your local beaches clean, now is the perfect time to double down and start a clean-up in your area. By giving your time and recourses, you have the power to make this world a better place for everyone & everything including the life below water.
In collaboration with Malaysian Nature Society (MNS), Watsons Malaysia helped to clean and remove more than 90kg of rubbish from the beautiful beach of Bagan Lalang, Selangor and planted more than 230 Mangrove seeds. This is one of the many Smiles for Good initiatives by AS Watson Group as we strive for a sustainable and greener environment.
- Reduce, Refill, Reuse, Recycle, Repeat
Once viewed as an inconvenience, but Reduce, Refill, Reuse & Recycle are now considered an essential part of moving towards a sustainable living. To illustrate, by recycling, we’re helping to protect the environment for wildlife. By reducing the need for new paper, we’re preventing the destruction of forests where animals live. And when we reuse plastics and they don’t end up in landfills, it reduces the risks of them being consumed by wild animals. In other words, you can feel great by doing good to the wildlife when you recycle!
What are some of the simple steps you can take? Reuse containers and bags for shopping instead of always using new ones. The more you use reusable items, the less plastic waste products are thrown away. Hmm… Did you know that Watsons Malaysia has 3 refill stations and growing (Sunway Pyramid, Pavilion Bukit Jalil and TD Central Johor Bahru) for Naturals by Watsons, the FIRST in Asia to do so (Yessir!). You don’t have to take big steps at first; a few small changes in your behaviour can make a very big difference, promise!
- Leave No-One Behind
There is a Chinese saying that goes: “If you want happiness for an hour, take a nap. If you want happiness for a day, go fishing. If you want happiness for a year, inherit a fortune. If you want happiness for a lifetime, help somebody”. Well, for centuries, the greatest thinkers have suggested the same thing: Happiness is found in helping others.
In our continuous effort to give back to the community, Caryn Loh, Managing Director of Watsons Malaysia with Watsons Malaysia staff, spread the cheer to the lovely residents of Rumah Victory (Victory Home) by bringing them to shop at a Watsons Malaysia store and visit various attractions in Kuala Lumpur before ending the day by treating them to a meaningful meal.
- Smile… And Pass it On
While it seems unassuming, being kind is truly powerful. For example, kindness is making someone smile if only for a moment. What if putting smiles on the lives of children with cleft conditions, through access to safe, free surgery and comprehensive cleft care? Even even even better. That’s what Watsons Malaysia & Colgate Palmolive in collaboration with Cleft Lips & Palate Association Malaysia (CLAPAM) and Faculty of Dentistry, Universiti Malaya did. We organised a half-day event to celebrate cleft children & raise awareness on cleft lips & palate.
Sooo… take a few minutes, have a read again from the top and think about doing something kind for a friend or a stranger, or an animal or any living thing today! Everyone’s actions will add up to a big and positive impact – let’s all make a difference in the world together. Let’s LOOK GOOD, DO GOOD, and FEEL GREAT.
