Kindness has to be one of the most beautiful traits one can chose to adopt.

The smallest, most simple act of kindness can travel so very far.

Be it kindness, laughter or positivity, good vibes are contagious and the more you use them, the more you will see a direct increase of the positivity presence in your life.

So when DoubleTree by Hilton asked me to spread light on their ‘DoubleTree Effect’ campaign I jumped right on the bandwagon. They are pursuing a pay it forward movement; the idea that kindness generates more kindness.

Acts of kindness, love and selflessness are what makes the world go round and this crazy planet a better place.

These acts are so easy to create but also ones we, so often, forget to initiate.

When was the last time you offered the person next to you a chocolate from your bag of Minstrels? Or waited beyond the convenience of two seconds to hold the door open for someone? When was the last time you looked up from your phone, smiled at someone and said how lovely they look today?

We all know how good it feels to receive these acts of kindness and the positive effect it has in our day don’t we?

You know, that warm fuzzy feeling inside, when your faith in humanity and friendly people is restored and you suddenly remember that we’re all in this together.

Yeah that.

What does Kindness do?

According to a recent report, by the School of Life and DoubleTree by Hilton, it has been concluded that acts of kindness can improve relationships, productivity in the workplace, feeling of contentment and general positivity – all of which are easy to see why.

The people surveyed have also said that receiving kindness is more precious than receiving diamond jewellery, presents and cars. Whilst this may not the case for all, it really does show how valuable and powerful such {free} gestures can be.

Ones frequency of kind acts can always be increased, and in doing so will contribute directly to ones positive outlook on life. It’s a no brainer and an action that is both free and instantly rewarding.

Kindness is particularly important to me when I’m travelling.

Just recently I had a nightmare of a trip back from Nantucket where, due to a delay, my connecting flight from NYC to London was missed and then, due to limited hotel rooms and a broken promise… I was left to sleep {lie} on the airport floor to wait for the next flight to London.

It’s safe to say at this point I wasn’t in the best mood, but with a sore back, sleep deprived face and fed up energy fleeting from me – I continued to take my seat on the first plane out of NYC on the Sunday morning.

It was then, sat on the plane, that myself and the girl next to me (who looked like she’d had as rough a night as me) caught eye contact and with a smile she offered me a chewing gum from her packet.

I didn’t even want chewing gum and I actually had some of my own in my bag, but just the willingness of this girl to share, the thought she had spared for me and the simple human interaction she had instigated was enough to lift my spirits and make me smile back.

Kindness is an essential element in gracious and joyful living. It usually costs nothing to extend and when coupled with a smile, it can change a day or a life.

We shared stories of her adventures in NYC and of mine in Nantucket and the whole situation even made me want to share my salted caramel cookies with her later on in the flight (note: these are my absolute favourite and I don’t share lightly).

Not only was the kindness exactly what I needed, but it led to conversation, laughter and further interaction that now, in a world obsessed with technology, we often forget to engage in.

My nightmare journey suddenly didn’t feel so bad.

Kindness is magic, it’s free and it is ridiculously contagious…

It’s exactly the same for example, when someone insists on letting you go first in the Starbucks coffee queue or let’s you out at a T-junction.

It costs nothing, it deprives you of nothing and it leaves everyone involved with a smile and a warm feeling inside. Right?

Why is kindness so important when travelling?

When one is travelling… away from home comforts and familiar surroundings – kindness can be the missing piece of the adventure puzzle.

You never know who’s feeling homesick and who your kindness may comfort.

You never know who is sad and who the kindness may lift.

And you never know when YOU’RE going to need it.

Take it upon yourselves to hand it out and sprinkle kindness like glitter wherever and whenever possible.

Tell me…

Has an act of kindness ever affected your travels and made your day take a U-turn?

Thank YOU guys for reading <3

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DoubleTree by Hilton pride themselves on the kindness they offer to guests in their hotels, from the warm chocolate chip cookie welcome, to their genuine staff. They’re there to make your stay as nice as they possibly can. It’s not just a promise, it’s just how they do things.

doubletree3.hilton.com

If this post has caught your attention and you’d love to read a bit more, you can catch the DoubleTree by Hilton Kindness Report here.

*This post was part of a sponsored campaign I have been working on with DoubleTree by Hilton {Sept 2016}. All opinions are 100% mine, and all photos and copy {barre some facts sourced from the Kindness Report} in this post have been curated by myself – Mollie.