Main concepts

Three concepts are essential to this campaign:

Choice: directly connected with the idea of ‘freedom’, choice is the basis of this campaign; that believes no change is possible without a conscious personal participation. Without choice, no kindness or presence will happen. Without it, people won’t embrace their responsibility regarding a better now or a better World; they can not accept their acts have consequences (either positive or negative) and therefore can’t provoke change in the present.

Kindness: The concept encloses ideals of respect, empathy, service and non-violence; translated into different concrete actions. It is voluntary; therefore, it differs from citizenship or obligation. It is also altruistic; not expecting (although it doesn’t exclude the possibility happening) advantages or recognition. It is applied with the sole objective to create a better now for oneself and the others.

Presence: Related to ideals of integrity, honesty, acceptance and joy; refers to an ability to be whole where one is. It is not related to specific activities but to a state of mind, where there is attention and perception; to a state of heart where one is happy and satisfied; and to a sensorial state of consciousness and vibration with the moment. Living the now and fully ceasing it.

The basis for making kindness and presence concrete is personal choice. Their application can happen in different manners (simple or complex actions) and levels (personal, societal and environmental). These are but a few examples to clarify how a person could enrol to the campaign, by changing his/her perception, behaviour or discourse. More examples and explanation about the concepts will be provided on the blog posts.

Simple actions of kindness:

- Personal (oneself). To ignore and change inner diminishing voices; to respect oneself doing what’s in accordance to own values and heart, instead of just to please someone else or the society.

- Societal (the others). To treat the waitress in a café with a smile and patience despite anything; open and hold doors; breaks paradigms; do what needs to be done to help.

- Environmental (the World). To take care of an abandoned pet; support free range; plant a tree; reduce wastage.

Complex subjects related to kindness:

Gender empowerment and equality, personal development, blood donation, human rights, volunteering, recycling, and diversity; among others.

Simple actions of presence:

- Personal. To get to know ourselves and our values, being honest with and about ourselves and living with integrity. To enjoy a dish tasting every bit, every flavour, texture, temperature instead of swallowing it. To read a book and feel the texture of its cover, the fingers turning the pages, the story creating life in the mind and taking the heart with it.

- Societal. To sit with friends without rush enjoying their company; listening to what they are saying, and to what they are not saying behind tired eyes or smiles. To do your work with attention and diligence; understanding that it is part of a chain reaction that impacts on others lives and tasks.

- Environmental. To notice and to follow life's rhythms; wake up with the spring, become lighter with summer, take things easy with fall, retreat to yourself in the winter. To understand the consequences ones acts for that moment and for years to come.

Complex subjects related to presence:

Slow food movement, nutrition, transformational leadership, CSR – Corporate Social Responsibility, sustainability, and responsible consumption; among others.