On kindness
Holding a door, a greeting, a kind word at the right moment… Small kindnesses travel further than we think. This list has a bear who believes in the good in everyone, a man who made a career of speaking kindly to children, two siblings sharing a single pair of shoes, a song that says "lean on me", a boy starting school with a face unlike anyone else's and Saadi's centuries-old advice. Pick one, and send one to someone; kindness is contagious.
Films
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1 Film
Paddington 2
A marmalade-scented feast that makes the world a kinder, gentler place.
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2 Film
Paddington
A sweet bear's tale showing that kindness and a little marmalade can warm even a huge city.
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3 Film
Won't You Be My Neighbor?
The story of Fred Rogers, who spoke to children with such kindness, gently shows how a little goodness can change the world.
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4 Film
Harvey
Elwood spreads kindness everywhere with his invisible rabbit friend in a sweet tribute to a good heart.
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5 Film
Babette's Feast
A masterpiece about how one generously prepared dinner softens the heart of a resentful village.
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6 Film
Children of Heaven
Two siblings' quiet sacrifice over a single pair of shoes fills the heart with pure love.
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7 Film
Arthur Christmas
Clumsy Arthur, racing to deliver one child's gift, shows with Aardman cheer how small kindnesses warm the world.
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8 Film
Babe
A little pig gently guides the sheep in a tender tale that shows courtesy opens every door.
Songs
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9 Song
Lean on Me
The warmest song of solidarity, saying you can lean on me.
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10 Song
You've Got a Friend
The loveliest song about friendship, reminding you someone is there for you on a hard day.
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11 Song
Give a Little Bit
Opening on acoustic guitar, this song warmly reminds you how sharing a little love and kindness can brighten the world.
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12 Song
Halil İbrahim Sofrası
A heart-warming song of advice on the value of sharing, abundance and a generous spirit.
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13 Song
Lay It on Me
A warm, reassuring song with bright horns and heartfelt lyrics celebrating someone ready to share your load.
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14 Song
Sevince
An Anatolian rock song that opens the doors of the heart to love, saying "don't stop, friend, make room for love too."
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15 Song
Nimrod (Enigma Variations)
Dedicated to a friendship, this slow, rising melody warmly reminds you that you are not alone.
Books
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16 Book
Miracles of the Namiya General Store
A novel in which small kindnesses connect through letters of advice that arrive from beyond time.
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17 Book
Wonder
Auggie starts school with a face that looks different, and his story shows the power of kindness.
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18 Book
The Gift of the Magi
A warm Christmas story about self-sacrificing love, in which a young couple gives each other their most precious possession.
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19 Book
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse
A book whose gentle drawings and brief words remind us of friendship, courage and the strength of asking for help.
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20 Book
The Railway Children
Three siblings move to the countryside, and their kindness leads to a happy ending.
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21 Book
The Little Witch
A little witch of one hundred and twenty-seven trying to be good cheerfully reminds you of the joy of being different and doing good.
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22 Book
Stargirl
The story of a girl unlike anyone else, scattering kindness everywhere, celebrates the courage and beauty of being yourself.
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23 Book
Gulistan
A graceful garden of advice, woven from stories of contentment, humility and kindness, read for centuries.
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24 Book
Bostan
A wise verse work that softens the heart with short stories about justice, compassion and gratitude.
Paintings
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25 Painting
Sewing the Sail
People sewing a white sail together under the Mediterranean sun; a feast of light and solidarity.
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26 Painting
The Child's Bath
This calm moment of a mother tenderly bathing her child shows love in its simplest and most sincere form.
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27 Painting
Self-Portrait with Her Daughter Julie
This embrace between mother and daughter conveys, just as it is, the reassuring warmth of being loved.
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28 Painting
Resting in the Field
A break in the field where the tired father sleeps and the mother caresses her child; family peace amid hard work.
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29 Painting
The Parrot Man
A man feeding colorful parrots on a shady garden path; a cheerful and surprising summer moment.
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30 Painting
Two Men Contemplating the Moon
The wordless, shared peace of watching the crescent moon shoulder to shoulder with a friend.
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31 Painting
I and the Village
A colorful fairy tale woven from childhood memories, in which a man and an animal gaze at each other tenderly.
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32 Painting
Sunflowers
A letter of friendship written in every shade of yellow; it brings sunlike warmth to every eye that looks at it.