We are diving into the art of Practicing Friendship, acknowledging the pervasive social disconnection caused by digital screens. Digital distractions are driving us to newly define behaviors like “phubbing,” where people ignore those in front of them to focus on their phones, a symptom of a broader struggle for human connection.

Compounding this is the statistic that 60% of millennials report struggling to make friends due to shyness. Instead of treating shyness as a fixed trait, we should view it as a lack of practice in forming friendships. This social difficulty is further evident in the “Gen Z Stare”—a blank look caused by social overwhelm—and a concerning UCLA study revealing that less than 7% of Americans consistently use basic courtesies like “please” and “thank you.”

This urgent need for connection makes embracing the Kindness Challenge a deep need within our communities. Our mantra is clear: “What you are not changing, you are choosing!” This week, it’s time to flex your friendly muscles and commit to ending excuses, phubbing, and blank stares to make kindness a daily norm and practice true friendship. Join the movement for one million moments of positive change by using the hashtag #1Mmoments.

 

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Kindness is truly contagious, as illustrated by the airport story shared in the middle video above. A simple, genuine compliment on an older woman’s fabulously bold, pink outfit transformed an instance of disapproval (the eye roll) into a shared moment of spontaneous applause from the entire gate.

On top of that, kindness is its own reward, offering a “Kindness High.” When you share a compliment, your brain releases Oxytocin, the “love and trust hormone.” This natural reward fosters social bonds and offers physical benefits, including lower blood pressure and reduced stress. Our universal design proves we were made to share kindness and be happy. Let’s spread one million moments of kindness and practice being friendly this week!