There’s a commemorative day, week, or month for nearly everything: iguana awareness, kiwi fruit, be nice to New Jersey, toasted marshmallows (all actual commemoratives). As a rule, I ignore such days, excepting National Ice Cream Cone Day, July 21, because, well . . . ice cream.

One other day I like to observe is coming up soon. World Kindness Day is Wednesday, November 13. Designated as a day on which people worldwide attempt to make the world a better place by celebrating and promoting good deeds and pledging acts of kindness, either as individuals or as organizations.

While I think that should be the goal of every day, since it’s not yet, why not at least celebrate this one day? Mark it on your calendar. Put a reminder on your phone. Start thinking now about how you can spread some kindness in a world where it often seems to be in short supply.

Remember, most kindnesses aren’t grand gestures; they’re those simple courtesies we offer one another: a sincere compliment, an offer of assistance, a smile and a greeting, allowing a car to merge in front of us…. They’re all really easy to do. But, you know what, they’re also really easy not to do. Be the person who extends a kindness—on World Kindness Day . . . and every day.

In honor of World Kindness Day, I’m sharing a few of my favorite kindness quotes:

“A kind life, a life of spirit, is fundamentally a life of courage—the courage simply to bring what you have, to bring who you are.” ~Wayne Muller

 “Three things in human life are important.  The first is to be kind; the second is to be kind; and the third is to be kind.” ~Henry James

“Be kind. Everyone you meet is carrying a heavy burden.” ~Plato

“Treat everyone with politeness, even those who are rude to you – not because they are nice, but because you are.” ~Author Unknown

“Kindness can become its own motive. We are made kind by being kind.” ~Eric Hoffer

“My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness.” ~Dalai Lama

“When given the choice between being right or being kind, choose kind.” ~R.J. Palacio

“The way we live our life is our spiritual practice—no more, no less, nothing but, nothing else.” ~Robert Corin Morris

“On most days, the biggest thing you can do is a small act of kindness, decency or love.” ~Cory Booker

“True kindness is rooted in a deep sense of abundance, out of which flows a sense that even as I give, it is being given back to me.” ~Wayne Muller

“Love doesn’t mean doing extraordinary or heroic things. It means knowing how to do ordinary things with tenderness.” ~Jean Vanier

“Tell me what you pay attention to, and I will tell you who you are.” ~Jose Ortega y Gasset

“Hello babies. Welcome to Earth. It’s hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It’s round and wet and crowded. On the outside, babies, you’ve got a hundred years here. There’s only one rule that I know of, babies, God damn it, you’ve got to be kind.” ~Kurt Vonnegut

If you want more kindness quotes, you’ll find them on my Resource Page. I’ll also share more favorite quotes on World Kindness Day.