Every day carry out a random act of kindness – With no expectation of reward!

Guest Column: Dr N Prabhudev
Bengaluru Express
Bengaluru, June 28:
Life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit. Kindness transcends barriers. Kindness speaks in a language everyone understands! Kindness is often conflated with the terms compassion and empathy! Everyone has kindness inside, but what happens is that it remains dormant? Being intentional about wanting to be kind awakens kindness. . Being nice refers to a pleasant behaviour, while kindness involves genuine care and concern.
So much of the world is centred on looking out for ourselves. We get caught up in our own problems, our own routines, our own pleasures, our own worries! What someone else might be going through, is often not our concern! A warm smile is the universal language of kindness- Be the reason for someone’s smile. Kindness breaks down barriers! A smile, a compliment, or a helping hand, these simple acts can create a ripple effect far beyond their scope.
I am a medical doctor! Medicine is humbling profession! “I gave up my life to learn how to save yours.” My experiences have shaped me into a better person! The presence of the doctor is the beginning of the cure! Helping others has made a huge impact on me. Often the best help to a problem is simply just being present. I have been fortunate enough to spend time with people at nearly every stage of life and in vastly different circumstances – kids in hospital, school going children, parents, old and not so old and critical patients!
Their lives couldn’t be more different, yet one thing connects them all: They are all human. Everyone shares the same need—to be seen, to be accepted, to feel like they matter. They need to be talked to. They need to be listened to! Even a critically ill patient just wants a conversation, a reminder that he isn’t alone. Even the smallest gestures can mean a lot! Sitting beside a critical patient, I’ve listened to stories they’ve never had the chance to tell—because sometimes, there’s no one left to listen! These moments weren’t about grand gestures or fixing anything—they were about reminding people that they matter.
None of these moments took much effort on my part. I didn’t have to go out of my way or do anything extraordinary—I just had to show up and be with them for a while! It’s about the little things. The everyday choices to be kind, to acknowledge someone, to take a few minutes out of your day to remind them that they aren’t alone. And the truth is, if more people made those choices, the world would feel like a much better place.
It’s the simple things that matter. A conversation, a smile, a moment of recognition—these things can change someone’s entire day, even if you don’t realize it. Me – telling my story isn’t about getting people to listen to me. It’s about showing that anyone, no matter who they are or where they are in life, has the ability to make an impact. Even if you think it won’t matter, it probably will. Because sometimes, the best medicine isn’t even medicine—it’s just knowing that someone cares.

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