World Kindness Day: Everyone Has a Story We Don't Know
- Mandy Burrell
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
This coming Thursday marks World Kindness Day, and it's the perfect moment to pause and reflect on something simple yet powerful, we never truly know what someone is going through.
The Stories Behind the Faces
Every day in our community, we pass people whose lives are far more complex than we might imagine. The person queuing beside you at the supermarket could be navigating challenges you'd never guess from the outside. They might be managing a chronic illness, someone whose been made redundant and now struggling to get a job, a parent who's recently left an unsafe situation, or a young person so affected by poor mental health that they feel unable to work.
At local advice services across Hamilton and Scotland, advisers meet people from all walks of life. Behind every person seeking support is a unique story and often one filled with struggles that remain invisible to the rest of us.
At Hamilton Citizens Advice alone, we supported nearly 4000 people last year facing a range of similar difficulties, each with a different story to tell.
Life Can Change in an Instant
An uncomfortable truth we all need to remember is that any of us could find ourselves needing support. Life has a way of changing direction when we least expect it.
Research shows that illness, relationship breakdown, and job loss are among the most common reasons people need emergency support, and anyone can find themselves in financial difficulty, regardless of their work history or background.
The need for a safety net exists because we all deserve dignity and support when times are hard. It's not a luxury, it's a recognition of our shared humanity.
What Kindness Actually Looks Like
Kindness isn't grand gestures or charity campaigns. It's in the everyday moments:
The smile you give at the checkout
The moment you pause before judging someone's choices
Listening with an open heart when someone shares their struggle
Challenging stereotypes instead of sharing them
Choosing empathy over assumption
Being kind to yourself, too.
According to the Mental Health Foundation, acts of kindness benefit both the giver and receiver, reducing stress and increasing wellbeing in our communities. A quick win for us all.
Breaking Down the Stigma
One of the biggest barriers people face isn't always the problem itself, it's the fear of judgement. The Poverty Alliance campaigns tirelessly against the stigma surrounding poverty and benefit claims, reminding us that dignity should never depend on circumstances.
When we judge someone for claiming benefits or being in debt, we're making assumptions about their story. We don't know about the invisible illness, the caring responsibilities, the redundancy after twenty years of service, or the abusive relationship they've fled.
Someone's worth shouldn't be determined by their employment status or bank balance.
Building Stronger Communities in Hamilton
This World Kindness Day, let's remember, everyone has a story we don't know.
Our community becomes stronger when we choose kindness, always.
If you're facing difficulties right now, please know that support is available without judgement. Local services like Hamilton Citizens Advice provide free, confidential and impartial advice and are committed to providing support with compassion, and kindness, no shame attached.
And for the rest of us? Let's commit to kindness. In how we speak about people facing hardship. In how we respond when someone asks for help. In how we treat the person in front of us, remembering they're carrying a story we don't know.
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