Saturday Real Talk: Kindness Is a Choice

I was thinking today about how many of my random acts of kindness are actually just… intentional moments.

Acknowledging each team member by name.

Buying Starbucks for my work grandkids when I’m in clinic.

Listening to patients without rushing them—really listening—when they need to share more than just a symptom.

Paying attention to conversations.

Ending calls with a simple “Go Seahawks.”

None of these are big, dramatic gestures.

But they matter.

Kindness doesn’t have to be loud.

It just has to be real.

What I’ve noticed is this: even on days when I’m tired, achy, or just plain irritated, when I pause long enough to show kindness to someone else, it comes back to me. Not always in words—but in smiles, softened voices, and that quiet sunshine feeling that settles in my spirit.

And that matters more than people realize.

Kindness is a choice.

Not a personality trait.

Not something you only offer when life feels easy.

Research backs this up—acts of kindness improve mental well-being, reduce stress, and build connection for both the giver and the receiver. But honestly? I didn’t need a study to tell me that. I see it every day on the phones, at the front desk, and in the small exchanges people remember.

Kindness creates a ripple.

One patient feels seen.

One coworker feels acknowledged.

One moment changes the tone of an entire day.

That doesn’t mean kindness equals weakness.

And it doesn’t mean ignoring boundaries.

Being kind doesn’t mean allowing yourself to be taken advantage of.

It means choosing compassion with awareness.

Sometimes kindness is a coffee.

Sometimes it’s patience.

Sometimes it’s simply letting someone know they matter.

And when the world feels heavy—and it often does—kindness becomes a quiet act of resistance.

So today’s Real Talk is this:

If you’re having a rough day, try giving kindness anyway.

Not because you owe it.

But because it has a way of coming back to you… gently, unexpectedly, and right on time.