We all know what it’s like to have a bad day. A friend of mine recently had his daypack stolen while in Ibiza and, yep—his passport and laptop, among other things, were gone. He said getting assistance from the authorities wasn’t easy. In fact, the people he dealt with weren’t very kind. Peter and I had a similar experience when we were in Israel and Peter’s camera bag was stolen with our passports in it. But our journey to get our emergency passports was different. Everyone was kind, helpful, and empathetic.

As Marcy Germanotta writes in the cover story this month, kindness is what makes the world a better place, and it’s so easy to be kind. Sure, sometimes, when we’re having a bad day, being kind to others might be the last thing we have on our mind. But guess what? As soon as you start being kind to others, your bad mood will start to lift. It’s contagious. The more kindness we spread, the more others will, too.

After you read Marcy’s article, talk to your kids about being kind. Ask them how it feels when someone is nice to them. Ask them what ways they can be kind to others. Keep a kindness chart on the fridge and write down ways your family is being kind—from small gestures to more dedicated acts of volunteerism. Let kindness be your mantra and pay it forward every chance you get.

I want to take a moment to say thank you to YOU—all our loyal readers and advertisers—for helping keep our community magazine alive. Times are challenging for small magazines like Tidewater Family Plus, but as readers you can help by visiting advertisers and telling them where you saw their ads. Also you’ll find Q-codes on many ads. These provide a super easy way to get more information about an advertiser, using your phone. Just point your camera at the Q-code and click on the website that pops up.

Then put your phone down and finish enjoying this month’s issue. It’s full of good information to help you raise happy, successful kids and enjoy life in our community. And don’t forget to take time throughout your day to be kind to someone. You’ll not only raise someone else’s spirits, you’ll also feel happier, too. It’s a win-win!

Thanks for reading and thanks for advertising with us. Have a great month!