Kind Words

A few weeks ago, there was an unexpected thank-you card in my mailbox from Max, a rising eighth grader whom I started teaching writing to a couple of years ago. Reading his card resulted in me thinking about the importance of kind words, especially handwritten ones.

Max’s handwritten card was simple but very genuine and meaningful.

Dear Christina Caputo,

Thank you for teaching me all that I know about writing. Your critiques of my work helped me progress a lot, and I am sure that what you have taught me will help me in the future. I cannot thank you enough for your help.

From,

Max E.

After I read Max’s card, I started reflecting on how in today’s world there is so much emphasis placed on using writing to get what we want—whether that be getting a good grade on a school paper or in a school English class, winning a writing competition, getting into a sought-after college, getting what we want in a business-related matter, etc. Rarely is an emphasis placed on using writing to spread kindness, and the world we live in could use kind words more than ever right now.

In an effort to continue to have my work positively impact the lives of others, I am planning to encourage the students in my Writing Critique classes to write and send a kind well-written and well-edited note to a person of their choosing (e.g., a family member, friend, classmate, coach, mentor, etc.) at least once a month and possibly share what they wrote in their most recent note with their Writing Critique class. Writing the note will probably take only ten minutes, but the positive impact that it will have on the recipient of the note will be more than worth the time spent. Also, that person might feel inclined to write and send a kind note to another person, and so on.

Kind words, especially written ones, have the power to positively transform. Let’s make an effort to use them more and become the change that we want to see in our world.

~ Christina Caputo

Founder & Owner of ★ W O R D S