Image courtesy of livehappy.com

Idk ’bout u, but since the presidential election I’ve been feeling pretty impotent. Of course, there’s a million and three ways to help out: organize/attend rallies, protests, volunteer at or donate to the ACLU/Planned Parenthood/many other places, call the White House ((202) 456-1111), your Senator/Representative…

I was talking to my mom the other night and told her that I don’t know what else I can do to make things better. She said she doesn’t really know either, but she’s trying to be kinder to everyone because at this point, pretty much, she’s assuming everyone she meets is going through a harder time than usual. So, inspired by my good ol’ mom, here are some ways to be kind and immediately impact Kenyon peeps (not to be confused with Kenyon PEEPS). Take them, leave them, call them moralistic/prescriptive/artificial. But do it kindly.

• Hold doors for people (especially at Olin, Gund Commons and Peirce)
• If you’re sitting with other people in Peirce, ask if they want anything from the servery when you go to get more food
• Send “thank you” emails to professors (addressed courteously, not like you’re emailing a YouTube link to cousin Randy)
• Say hi to that kid in your anth class who you don’t know super well but you know well enough to ask for the homework after every class
• Sincerely compliment that person’s really excellent outfit/makeup/personality/aura, even if you don’t know them
• Return cups/plates/bowls/silverware/mugs to Peirce
• When you engage in a controversial debate via Facebook (or, less conventionally, allstu), use language/emojis/stickers that are persuasive and further your argument, but do not antagonize the person with whom you’re arguing (I’m only half joking about this one)
• If you happen to have a pleasant chat with someone you haven’t seen in a while, say, “It was good to see you.” It can turn around a day
• RETURN CUPS/PLATES/BOWLS/SILVERWARE/MUGS TO PEIRCE
• Greet AVI workers and Kenyon staff when you see them around. (Also, make sure you say hi to Vic. Tell him he looks nice. He probably said that you look nice.)
• Listen to people’s answers when you ask about their day
• Pick up litter
• Listen to people you disagree with (friends, classmates, profs)
• When arguing back, annihilate a person’s argument, not the person themself
• Wait for your friend while they pet that dog on Middle Path
• If you can spare the time, wait the extra two minutes so you can walk to Peirce with your friend
• If someone you don’t know asks to share a table with you for a meal, chat with them (unless you or they have your/their nose so deeply buried in Plato’s Republic that said nose has disappeared altogether).
• Return. Cups. Plates. Bowls. Silverware. Mugs. To. Peirce