Kindness is a big thing

"Little kindnesses go a long way toward building relationships of trust and unconditional love. Just think about the impact in your own family of using words or phrases such as thank you, please, excuses me, you go first, and may I help you. Or performing unexpected acts of service such as helping with the dishes, taking children shopping for something that's important to them, or phoning to see if there's anything you can pick up at the store on the way home. Or finding little ways to express love, such as sending flowers, tucking a note in a lunch box or briefcase, or phoning to say "I love you" in the middles of the day. Or expressing gratitude and appreciation. Or giving sincere compliments. Or showing recognition--not just at times of special achievement or on occasions such as birthdays but on ordinary days, and just because your spouse or your children are who they are."

"Twelve hugs a day--that's what people need. Hugs come physically, verbally, visually, environmentally. We all need twelve hugs a day--different forms of emotional nourishment from other people or perhaps spiritual nourishment through meditation or prayer."

"To do carefully and constantly and kindly many little things is not a little thing."

From The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families by Stephen R. Covey (pp. 22-23)