Everyday kindness is important. On World Kindness Day, our community wrote down ways we intend to share the virtue, and Sav and Nelson, assistants, reflect on the virtue’s abundance in community.
Kindness is simple in theory, yet it is also an all-encompassing word, one that touches on curiosity without judgment, being welcoming and warm, honesty with compassion, thoughtfully holding conflicting perspectives, and offering grace to ourselves and others. It’s friendliness, generosity, support, and consideration all wrapped together.
This expanded understanding of kindness reflects the values of L’Arche Chicago and all who are part of this community. Since joining in September, I have been privileged to share life here and to witness this version of kindness lived out every single day.
Whether it’s being welcomed with a hug by Markita, sharing a joke with Casey, receiving a holiday card from Anders, or having Sookie rest on your lap. It’s seeing Mic’s whole family come to help with a cleaning project, getting encouragement from Meghan, hearing Christianne ask, “how’s your family?”, experiencing Annalise’s enthusiasm, or feeling Jean gently pet your hand at the table. It’s in our reflective team meetings, swapping perspectives with Camille and Clara, and the laughter shared with housemates over silly dinner questions.
Each of these small moments tells a story of kindness, and together, they form a beautiful picture of who we are. I am deeply grateful to be part of a community where kindness isn’t just a value we name, but a way of life we practice together.
Sav
Through my work with individuals with disabilities, I have come to understand that kindness is not merely an emotion—it is a conscious choice to act with compassion and generosity, expecting nothing in return. My experiences at L’Arche have deeply shaped this belief. L’Arche is a place where every person’s story is honored, and where we speak of “gifts” to celebrate what makes each individual unique. It is within these gifts that I’ve learned to recognize how kindness manifests in everyday life. When I first stepped into a L’Arche home in 2011, I met Willy. He gently took my hand and showed me his cherished mementos, each one a reflection of what brought him joy. That simple gesture—inviting me into his world—became my first real lesson in kindness.
Years later, while sharing life at St. Joseph House, I received a phone call from John C., who had gone home to visit his family. He called me just to say, “thank you for helping me today.” His words were small, but the sincerity behind them filled me with joy and affirmation. In both moments, I was reminded that kindness is not grand or performative—it is authentic, simple, and deeply human. It flows naturally when we see and honor one another’s gifts. Through L’Arche, I have learned that kindness is a way of being that connects us to others and reveals the beauty of who we truly are.
Nelson
