Gunnen

Yesterday was World Kindness Day.

And to be honest, I sometimes lose track of all these days: World Oceans Day, Mental Health Day, Kindness Day. They all carry important messages, but they can get lost in the noise of the calendar.

Still, one thought stayed with me. "Kindness" is a beautiful word, but there is a Dutch word that goes even deeper. A word that cannot be translated into English: "Gunnen".

"Gunnen" means that you genuinely want something good for someone else. Not because it benefits you or because you expect anything in return, but simply because their happiness makes sense to you.

Gunnen sounds like: "I am happy for you", "this belongs to you", "I so hope this goes well for you".

In some cases "gunnen" is as simple as the choices we make in daily life. Two shops selling the same thing. One is a big chain that will be fine either way, the other is a small local bakery, run by someone who gets up at four in the morning to make fresh pastries, someone who works hard, smiles easily and truly cares. The price may be a little higher but you choose the small one anyway. Not because you have to but because you want that person to succeed. Because you feel they deserve it. That is "gunnen"

The small decisions that show what we value and who we choose to support.

Kindness does not need a date in the calendar. It lives in small gestures, in genuine care and in how we show up for each other.

"Gunnen" is one of my favourite Dutch words because it captures where real connection begins.

A little more "gunnen" in the world would not hurt any of us.