by Kayla Myers, Peer Support Coordinator

August 19, 2025

As we navigate the challenges of today's world, from political tensions to economic struggles, it’s easy to forget that the most essential part of our humanity is a simple act of kindness. On Be Kind to Humankind Week, we are gifted an opportunity not only to reflect on the value of kindness but to practice and advocate for it in our everyday lives consistently. As someone who wears multiple hats, from a peer supporter role to an advocate for social change, this week holds deeper significance.

In the role of a peer supporter, I have witnessed the ripple effect of kindness. Whether I was helping a family navigate a mental health crisis, providing emotional support to a caregiver, or simply lending a listening ear to someone in need, the power of kindness is undeniable. It’s in the small gestures. A comforting word, a shared cup of coffee, a reassuring message can make all the difference. For human beings who are fighting silent battles or going through the toughest times, these moments of human connection can be a lifeline.

However, the real challenge we face is extending that kindness beyond our immediate circles, especially in times when it feels like the world is divided. Right now, as a country, we are experiencing deep social and political division, an ongoing public health crisis, and economic instability. We are struggling to keep our heads above water, and many are feeling the weight of uncertainty and fear.

In my eyes, this is precisely the time when kindness is most needed.

As an advocate for mental health and social change, I often find myself pushing for policy shifts and societal reforms that prioritize the well-being of all people. But advocacy doesn’t stop in the halls of government or on social media platforms. It starts with each of us, in our homes, neighborhoods, and communities. The most significant change often begins with small, personal acts of kindness.

We are seeing what can feel like an overwhelming number of issues in the world right now: injustices, scrutiny for speaking out about the wrong that is being done daily, the rise of mental health struggles, and more. But I can only hope, in these moments of chaos, that kindness can act as a beacon of hope, a reminder that there is good in the world despite the noise. With life experience and with my work as a peer supporter, I’ve seen how simple acts can spark real, tangible change.

Kindness isn’t just about being nice; it’s about advocating for justice, lifting others up, and standing together in the face of adversity. It’s about showing up for the people who need us most. And right now, as a country, we need each other more than ever.

What can be done? What can you do? How do you get started? I am so glad you asked! Here is a simple list of ideas that I hope will help spark something within you so you can keep implementing small acts of kindness every day:

1. Listen Without Judgment
   Sometimes, the most powerful form of advocacy is simply being a compassionate listener. When we listen to each other’s stories without judgment or preconceived notions, we validate people’s experiences. Listening is the first step in offering support and understanding.
2. Support Mental Health Initiatives
   Mental health is at the forefront of our collective struggles today. As a peer supporter, I know the importance of advocating for more accessible, equitable, and compassionate mental health services. Kindness means standing with those who need help and fighting for resources that can change their lives.
3. Create Safe Spaces for Dialogue
   In a divided world, we need spaces where people can discuss their differences with respect and empathy. Organizing community discussions or engaging in open dialogues about current events can foster understanding, dissolve fears, and build bridges where walls once stood.
4. Leading with Empathy in Policy
   Whether advocating for healthcare, education, or economic support, it's critical to approach these issues with empathy. Policies that impact human beings should be crafted with a deep understanding of the diverse challenges people face. A kinder, more equitable society requires us to work from a place of care and compassion, not just statistics and numbers.
5. Model the Change You Want to See
   One of the most powerful ways we can spread kindness is by modeling it in our own actions. Whether it's in our families, at work, or in our communities, showing kindness in the way we interact with others sets the tone for those around us. Kindness is contagious. The more we practice it, the more it will spread.

 We are all living through trying times, but these times do not define us. What will define us is how we respond. As individuals and as a collective society, we can choose kindness, not just on Be Kind to Humankind week, but every day. Kindness in the face of adversity can heal wounds, build communities, and drive us toward a more just and compassionate world.

As someone who has walked alongside my peers in their most vulnerable moments, I can attest to the transformative power of kindness. It is the glue that holds us together when everything else feels like it's falling apart. And if there’s one thing I know, it’s that we are all capable of spreading kindness in ways that create lasting change.

So, this Be Kind to Humankind week, I encourage you to reach out. Reach out to a neighbor, a friend, a stranger, or a family member. Let them know they’re seen, heard, and valued. Advocate for policies that prioritize the well-being of ALL people. And, perhaps most importantly, remember that kindness doesn’t just change the world, it heals it.

Kindness is not just a gesture, it’s a movement. As a peer supporter, as an advocate, and as a human being, I believe in the power of kindness to heal, unite, and empower us to create a better tomorrow. Let's make this Be Kind to Humankind week the start of something bigger. Let's make it a reminder that, no matter how dark the world may seem, kindness will always be the light that guides us home.

(Edited and enhanced using ChatGPT)

by Nikki Russell, Recovery Coach

January 16, 2024

The pursuit of happiness can feel like hunting for an external thing that, when destroyed, justifies the means. Mind you, this perspective comes from a Vegetarian who insists on achieving balance through less sacrificial means. There are two ways to view the world we live in. The first is objective, survival of the fittest, which proclaims intellect is almighty and whoever thinks and runs faster wins. The second approach comes from "Namaste," which means "the God in me recognizes the God in you." This is not only from human to human but also from human to object. Recovery cleared this up for me, creating a space in my heart for the value of all living things as a way of life. Proclaiming this value system, living in Montana has its set of challenges, as does not drinking and carrying a Buddhist mindset. Through the years, I have become steadfast in my beliefs and recognize authentic qualities as an expression of empowerment. Being a vegetarian while existing in the land of hunters forces me to reconcile an attitude that could come off as righteous. The lofty goal of not wanting to be judgmental and accepting all people for their belief system attempts to break the chains of conditioning. I fight against my childhood conditioning that tells me hunting for happiness is a futile effort that leads to selfishness. Walking the fine line of service to others while maintaining a sense of dignity is a daily endeavor, I find rewarding and exhausting. This paper attempts to relay a message of hope through a personal discovery process of archetypal patterns of the hunter and a redefining of happiness.

The hunter hunts are a simple determination; they are on a precise task with a purpose. Although I have never hunted animals, I know the adrenaline rush of shopping or the hunt for a drink. An adventure of the will for something that fulfills a desire, whether a spiritual hunger or an empty stomach. The prize temporarily satisfies a desperate need for success, whether it is a suppression of loneliness to permit a facade of satisfaction or trophy antlers proudly hung on a wall to display pride. The hunter archetype can play out in people's lives in many different ways, exhibiting the result of a journey traveled far and wide to display a prize that is sure to impress. The hunter is a seeker, a pursuer, and a predator. When a hunter esteems its target, it is focused, energized, and respectful. When a hunter comes from a wounded space, they can be irresponsible, thoughtless, and damaging. I can see myself as an archetypal hunter with a weapon of choice, willing to shoot my target to fulfill a desire. Whether in my addiction or my recovery, being a courageous hunter for happiness has compelled life.

The desires are fierce and demand an action. Healthy behaviors lead life today, and kindness is my weapon of choice. Yet, there live the hunter in my heart, reminding me that I am not so different from the Montana way of life. I am intertwining a rugged beauty with a wild heart that calls me to the mountains of my life. Courageous, traversing the elements as I explore the world inside and outside of me. When I acknowledge the hunter in me, I must ask what I am hunting. Why am I hunting it? And is the weapon I hold in my grasp necessary for the task?

Every happiness has two specialties: one is perceiving something as good, and the other is attaining it. The thing that is perceived as good is hunted. To prepare for the hunt, a person must know what is good for them. The pursuit begins with a foundation of the values a person stands upon. Values come from conditioning and an innate essence planted in everyone as a purpose. The conversation can get tricky from this point, depending on your belief system, because there are two perspectives on happiness: one is metaphysical, and the other is that happiness is an external resource. Metaphysical happiness is where a person places their joy in the present moment with an acceptance that all external things reflect the internal work. Honoring good and bad things is a humble reminder that life carries lessons to benefit the more extraordinary claim. In this respect, happiness is not a pursuit but a surrender to the knowledge that the Universe will supply the means for survival. An actively passive exchange is where the energy a person puts into something is what they receive in return. A monetary value is not described as something that offers happiness, but the connection to infinite possibilities gives unbounded contentment even in the face of threat. Words could not possibly describe the experience of a metaphysical process of mysticism, but it is like trying to describe recovery to a person amid their addiction.

Happiness can be described as a comfortable feeling, the absence of fear or ambivalence. Many people describe it as the American dream or banking happiness; laughing all the way to the bank brings a sense of gratification. Being a consumer of happiness allows many people to trade ethics for instant gratification, morals for validation, and authenticity for approval. That said, it is a standard method, extracting love from a gallon of ice cream, confusing quality with quantity, and trading a smile for a buck. A true hunter of happiness values the journey, works hard for the reward, and holds sacred the affected life. Regulating happiness is a legitimate way to find temporary contentment. Still, much like addiction, where a hit gives a warm hug, it only leaves you wanting more when the happiness effects wear off. Happiness is a valid emotion, just like sadness and fear, alerting the brain to promote balance and more things that bring joy and protection from those who do not. Happiness has turned into a consumer's delight, failing to produce fulfillment and offering a much-needed break from the effects of life. Western society promotes happiness as a dream, achievable only once you pay for it. As a society, we forgot what we forgot, and freedom is not free. The unpretentious hunter does not want an animal to be sacrificed for their entertainment but holds high regard for the medicine it provides, a reciprocal relationship that digests appreciation, honor, and respect. Happiness lives in each action that promotes balance. Justice is living a life that honors generosity, patience, and diligence. When we spend money, we are offering something of ourselves in return. Happiness is the action that comes from the core of a value system and requires bravery to leap in the direction of authenticity. Hunting for happiness requires self-awareness that grows from a healed heart that aligns with the bow and arrow and, before it is shot, understands the gravity of the action. Before money is spent, we know the object's value; before words are spoken, we understand the weight they carry; and before the trigger is pulled, we grasp the consequence of the effort.

The hunter of happiness proclaims victory over the present moment by claiming her stake in goodness. Pursuing happiness is an internal process that allows happiness to exist, free of judgment, and recovery to be the foundation of a well-lived life.