Dear Friend,

Let’s talk about kindness.

I’ve been staying in an Airbnb in a condo/apartment complex for the past 2 weeks.

Every time I leave my apartment, I pass by the guest lounge. It is just a few couches with some children’s play equipment next to it.

When I first arrived here, I had to wait in the guest lounge for about 20 minutes before checking in. There were two bored little kids just hanging out in the area.

Over the days and weeks, I developed a bond with these kids and a few others that are here. I became tito Cliff (uncle Cliff) to them.

And why would I go out of my way to shower these kids with attention and praise?

Well, to paraphrase something I mentioned to a friend here:

“I might forget these kids but they will never forget me, and I know that I can leave a positive impact on their lives if I just put in a little bit of effort“.

Most people just ignore little kids. But being a unique traveler, I recognize the power that a few small actions can have on their lives.

Life isn’t super easy for many people in this area. It is pretty chaotic and there is plenty of poverty. I believe that I have a responsibility to shine a light wherever I go.

So at every opportunity, I’ve made sure to be kind to the kids here. I say hello, exchange epic high-fives, answer their questions, tell them about America, and let them play with my phone and Apple Watch (they love my watch).

I get this feeling that they don’t have anyone in their lives that is willing to give them that kind of positive attention, and to them, it means a lot to have a foreigner nearby.

Why is showing kindness to little kids (and anyone else) so important? Well, have you ever heard of the “1-in-60“ rule?

No?

Okay, let me tell you about it then.

The 1-in-60 Rule: Why Kindness Is So Important

The “1-in-60“ rule is an aviation concept that you should remember. To summarize the rule, for every 1° error in your trajectory, you will miss your target by 1 mile for every 60 miles flown. ✈️

Here is how I want you to think about this rule: a small nudge can completely change the final destination.

This is why I strive to be kind to other people, especially people that have a lot of time left, like kids.

I mean, how would you feel if, as a youngster, someone reached into your life and pushed you in a better direction? Just think about it.

Small actions, small nudges, can have a drastic impact on the final outcome.

I Shall Not Pass This Way Again

Yesterday, I was wandering through Taytay, here in the Philippines, and I stumbled across a fantastic quote that I want to share with you.

Here is the quote again, if it isn’t too clear.

I’d never heard this quote before, but it is great and goes along really well with everything that I’ve said in this letter.

It Is Your Responsibility To Be Kind

At this point, I hope you recognize the importance of being kind and the impact that small acts of kindness can have on people.

But I have two questions for you:

1. Do you want people to be kind to you?

Your answer is a quick “yes“.

2. Are you kind to others?

Ooooh, I got you. It is a little more difficult to quickly say “yes”, huh?

If you expect people to be kind to you, then you have a responsibility to actively make an effort to contribute to the circulating happiness throughout the world by being kind to everyone you meet.

It isn’t always easy, and I am far from perfect, but I can say that I’ve seen the power of kindness both in my life and in the lives of others.

And we can make the world just a little better by showing just a little more kindness.

Alright, that is all I have for you today.

Be nice to someone this week!

All the best,

Cliff