We would would love to introduce Carmen Clay! Carmen works at the Casady School as the chair of the Rainbolt Family-Learning Service.  Casady School is an independent K-12 and college prep school, located in Oklahoma City and is committed to providing a foundation of excellence for all students, instilling them with the educational and social skills to triumph in their future endeavors.

We have asked Carmen to compose an array of responses about what kindness means to her! Please take a moment to look at Carmen’s refreshing perspective!

Carmen, what does kindness mean to you?
Kindness is love and compassion.  It is the breath of happiness.  When you inhale kindness and love, you are empowered to be a compassionate agent of change.  As breathing, kindness love and compassion, cannot be separated.  They are in balance.  Making a small or big difference in someone else makes you a better, “happier” person.

What inspired you to do the work you do?
I dream of a world that treats all people with human dignity and values humanity as they value the Superbowl, a merger agreement between two rivals.  I dream of a world where we all believe and practice, Human Dignity, JUST DO IT!

Describe a moment kindness made an impact in your life?
Haru Inouye, former CEO of the Shinnyo-en Foundation asked me, What do you need and how we can help you?   Then, he put the whole power of his organization to support my small actions through pinwheels for peace to raise awareness of the International Day of Peace.  I was of no significance but he focused on my deepest need and provided me with the empowered me not to give up the peaceful advocacy for Peace One Day.

What is your wish for the world?
A world where children will only read about war and poverty in history books.  A world where peace and balance are the highest self-patrolled priority.  Why? Because it is the right thing to do for ourselves and our future generations.

What motivates you?
A peaceful world for our future generations (I have two baby grandchildren).  We need to stop repeating our mistakes from history.

Thank you, Carmen for serving as an amazing conduit of peace and kindness at your school – you, your students and your efforts are an inspiration.

To continue the kindness, please join The Great Kindness Challenge – Family Edition to engage your household in intentional kind acts, including making a thank you card for your local librarian!