Whatever happened to kindness? Spoiler alert: Our readers prove it's alive and well

NPR revisited research on how small, everyday interactions can boost well-being, and readers say the “kindness” effect is real. The original 2023 piece traced psychologist Gillian Sandstrom’s findings back to her Toronto graduate-student days, when she exchanged daily waves and hellos with a hot dog vendor even without buying anything. The research links these weak ties to improved mood and less isolation. Global health professor Kristin Jenkins of Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, Mich., assigned the practice to students, who kept sharing experiences. Readers described moments like a mechanic conversation and a hospital worker using names and extra listening time. Others shared acts beyond humans, such as greeting a hawk and complimenting a flower.