Welcome to my blog Encourage Kindness!
ABOUT ME
My name is Katherine Zimmerman and I am currently an undergraduate student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison where I am studying psychology and sociology. I created this blog my junior year of high school. Originally, Encouraging Kindness was a project for my Organizational Communications class; however, I continue to write and publish articles (as often as possible) to spread information about topics related to kindness, mental health, mindfulness, and well-being.
I am passionate about leaving a positive mark in my community and creating a more empathetic environment for all. I believe that many people in our society are beginning to forget how to genuinely care for and connect with others. I've seen numerous people become so self-absorbed in their own lives they've forgotten how their behavior affects others—this occurrence has manifested into a deficit of mindfulness within social interactions. My goal is to reverse this negative social phenomenon by encouraging people to get connected again through kindness and altruism.
OUR MESSAGE
The message of this blog is to broadcast the benefits of kindness, spread awareness about social problems, and encourage people to start thinking about how they're contributing to society. My hope is to make people aware of themselves and their actions by encouraging a more empathetic way of thinking and creating positive relationships within communities.
Everyone comes from all different walks of life. Some people have it all while some have nothing. You never know a person's whole story. They might come from a chaotic home or have no home at all. They might suffer from addiction, sickness, or mental illness. They might even just be having a bad day. They could be anyone in your life: a friend, your family or a peer. However, they wake up and continue life doing the same things you do, carrying a baggage of turmoil. Knowing this, we should make the conscious decision to be that person in someone's day (or life) who makes them feel appreciated, important, loved, and cared for. Even a single smile or "hello" can make the biggest difference.
If you'd like to learn more you can contact me via email at kkatiezimmerman@gmail.com!