Chapter 10: Be Kind - Rising Above the Rush
BY WYBIE
A. THE PASSAGE
Rising Above the Rush
The lively atmosphere of Lunar New Year blended seamlessly with the bustling city air. Sandra drove through the crisp night after a joyful hangout with her cousins, her heart brimming with excitement for the upcoming holiday. The streets shimmered with colorful lights, accentuating the delicate pink cherry blossoms that lined the sidewalks.
Upon returning home, she noticed a text message from one of her cousins—an invitation for a last-minute trip to the mountains, a little-known destination. Thrilled by the idea, she wasted no time. Knowing the journey was set for the very next day, she quickly packed her essentials before drifting into a deep slumber.
Before the sun had fully risen, Sandra awoke, prepared herself a simple sandwich, and grabbed her bag. Soon, she was in the car with her cousins, setting off on their adventure. The drive was long and exhausting, but as they arrived, the fatigue melted away. A wave of fresh mountain air greeted them, a stark contrast to the dense fog and relentless energy of the city. It was peaceful. It felt like a renewal. A welcome break from the concrete jungle they were so accustomed to.
As they explored, wandering through the quiet landscapes and interacting with the locals, something shifted in Sandra’s perspective. The next morning, while having breakfast, she found herself distracted—not by the taste of the food, but by the sight of the cook preparing meals outside in the bitter cold. His modest food cart had only a few scattered chairs for customers, and his hands trembled as he worked.
At that moment, something clicked. In the midst of their joy, she realized the stark contrast between their temporary escape and the locals' daily struggles. The cold, which they had eagerly sought as a refreshing change, was a harsh and unforgiving reality for those trying to make a living here.
That night, she lay in bed, restless. It wasn’t her fault that the locals faced hardship, yet she couldn’t shake the feeling of guilt for not recognizing it sooner. She had always believed herself to be kind—offering help when needed, speaking words of encouragement, and showing care. But now, she wondered if she had been blind to the deeper realities around her. How had she been so absorbed in her own experience that she failed to see beyond it?
Determined to act, she decided to give the cook one of the unused coats she had packed. When she handed it to him later that morning, it didn’t feel like a sacrifice. Instead, the genuine gratitude on his face filled her with a warmth unlike anything she had experienced before. This time, it wasn’t just about being helpful—it was about truly understanding and connecting with another’s reality.
Though she had helped others before, something about this moment felt different. It was a small act, yet the emotions it carried were profound. She realized that kindness wasn’t just about doing good—it was about deeply feeling, truly seeing, and genuinely caring. It wasn’t just an action; it was a connection.
As she prepared to leave, the cook surprised her with a small box of treats—the very ones she had enjoyed at breakfast. On the journey home, she savored each bite, not just for the taste but for what it represented. The trip had been unforgettable, but this small gift meant even more. It was a symbol—a tangible reminder that kindness, when given from the heart, always finds its way back.
JOIN US THIS WEEK ON 22 MAR @ THE EXPO and let’s discuss your academic notes on BE KIND from the CHANGE RIDER MODULE.
ZOOM ID : 769 712 5558 (click ZOOM for the link or use the ZOOM ID)
PASS CODE : MEET
8:30 PM - 9:30 PM SINGAPORE TIME
7:30 PM - 8:30 PM VIETNAMESE TIME
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM INDIAN STANDARD TIME
4:30 PM - 5:30 PM OMAN TIME
The agenda this week
score board - Self reflection for Wybie and Mihf
challenges for the week
review wirh Parents [ quarterly update program]
Attention, we will have a small gathering for the parents on Mar 22 to review the Q1 results scorecards and performance.
practical use of school knowledge.
New chapter 11
B. THE CHALLENGE :
Wybie, our young leader from Vietnam, has a challenge for you! He has designed three tasks, each testing different traits that will shape your Talents, highlighting both your abilities and potential.
This week's challenge is all about Being Kind. Amid life's pressures, how can you practice kindness in meaningful ways? Wybie invites you to reflect, take action, and embrace the power of compassion. How will you rise to the challenge?
Click on the image below for the challenges on “be kind”
C. The Learning Space summary
The Learning Space — 22 March 2025
Hosted by: Wybie & SAHN
INDEX
RACI performance
Sessions OverviewEvaluationConclusion Remarks and Takeaways
RACI performance
📊 RACI Matrix Score: 8.2 / 10
Breakdown:
Accountability clarity: 10/10
Responsibility clarity: 8/10
Support completeness: 6.5/10
Consultation clarity: 7.5/10
Getting Better. WYBIE did all his R and A roles with one delay in A, a final performance score of 85% reflects both ownership and timely execution.
Weighted Score=6+2(6×100%)+(2×50%)=8600+100=87.5%
Stalling !!! MIHF final score was 41.67%
[Total Weighted Execution=(2×4)+(6×3)+(2×2)(2×4×0.5)+(6×3×0.5)+(2×2×1.0) =(4)+(9)+(4)8+18+4=1730=56.67%= \frac{(4) + (9) + (4)}{8 + 18 + 4} = \frac{17}{30} = 56.67\%=8+18+4(4)+(9)+(4)=3017=56.67% ]
Now apply extra penalty for failing both R and A on some task (EVALUATIONS):
Deduct 10–15% to reflect severity.
Final Adjusted Score} ≈ 56.67\% - 15\% = ~41.67%
A critical breakdown in both ownership (R) and decision authority (A).
Delays in A (COMMENT task).
Limited support or consulted roles to buffer execution impact..
Sessions Overview
Mindfulness to Begin: The Five-Finger Reset
SAHN kicked off the session with a calming five-finger breathing technique—an exercise to reset, re-center, and refocus.
Steps included:
Spreading one hand wide.
Tracing each finger with the opposite hand.
Inhaling while tracing up, exhaling while tracing down.
Repeating across all five fingers.
Participants practiced in silence, grounding themselves for the session ahead.
💡 Introduction to the Topic: BE KIND
Wybie opened the discussion by checking that everyone had read the pre-assigned article on kindness. He framed kindness as “being considerate, compassionate, and helpful”—but challenged the group to go deeper.
He posed a tough scenario:
A high school teacher publicly scolds a student, warning they’ll fail if they don’t work harder. Was it kindness in disguise or unnecessary harshness?
🔹Participant Reactions:
ELF: Felt the teacher was rude and unkind.
BLCOP: Thought the intention may have been good, but the approach should have been private.
JFP: Argued kindness is helping others even when they don’t like it—but felt the teacher’s method was discouraging.
🎯 Challenge of the Week: Kindness in Action
🔸 BLCOP’s Story
He helped a grieving friend who had just lost a beloved cat to cancer.
Action: Listened, comforted, and helped the friend relive joyful memories.
Reflection: Practiced empathy by imagining himself in the same shoes.
Takeaway: Emotions shape human connection; empathy strengthens bonds.
🔁 Feedback:
Wybie: Appreciated BLCOP’s effort to share his thoughts authentically and include a reflective component.
SAHN: Challenged BLCOP to think—“If no one had comforted you in that situation, how would your view of kindness change?”
BLCOP: “It depends on how close I was to the pet. If I was deeply connected, it would hit hard, and I’d really need someone to lean on.”
🔸 ELF’s Story
During a search-and-rescue course, she and her teammates had to jump from a two-story wall—wet boots, slippery surface, and fear running high.
Action: Faced personal fear, witnessed others’ struggles, and saw mutual encouragement emerge.
Reflection: Realized how mindset shapes experience. Kindness was felt through empathy, not mockery.
🔁 Feedback:
SAHN: Noted the story was strong but missed the angle of retelling from another’s perspective.
BLCOP: “Do you think clearly under pressure?”
ELF: “Honestly, no. I get flustered and anxious.”
Wybie: Tied the conversation back to the article—“Unlike fear, not all emotions are shared. How do we connect with others even when we feel differently?”
ELF: “We try to understand each other.”
Wybie: “Exactly. Like BLCOP said, we place ourselves in their shoes.”
🔸 JFP’s Story
He imagined witnessing a classmate getting bullied—but hesitated to help, fearing backlash.
Action: The next day, he helped others in small, quiet ways—crossing the road, lifting a friend, offering support without recognition.
Reflection: Realized that kindness doesn’t need an audience to matter.
🔁 Feedback:
Wybie: A bit below his past performance, but appreciated that JFP followed the challenge’s structure.
SAHN: Questioned the inconsistency—“You said you helped without expecting anything, but you also hesitated in your story. Can you explain?”
JFP: “Yes. The scenario was about hesitation. But afterward, I took action and reflected on how it felt.”
🌱 Thought for the Day: The Ripple Effect of Kindness
A short video was played, showing how one kind act can spark another in a chain reaction.
💬 Participant Reflections:
ELF & BLCOP: “Kindness is like a boomerang—it always comes back.”
MIHF: “It only counts if it comes from the heart, not for recognition.”
BLCOP: Recalled being helped after a fall at school.
ELF: Recalled helping a teacher carry supplies with no prior connection.
JFP: Shared how a friend he once helped unexpectedly returned the favor.
Wybie: “Kindness is about knowing when and how to show it—it’s not just the act, it’s the intention.”
Shared a story of a friend offering food during a school trip lunch—an instinctive gesture that built a lasting friendship.
Evaluation
1. BLCOP
Top Traits: Empathy, Compassion, Patience
Score: 8.5 / 10
Strengths:
Deep emotional empathy and willingness to sit with another’s pain.
Used storytelling to connect emotionally and reflect meaningfully.
Calm, patient support during a peer’s grieving process.
Areas for Improvement:
Authentic Expression: Narrative felt more imaginative than experiential—needs more genuine, first-person emotional articulation.
Depth of Support: Could describe follow-through actions—how support extended beyond one conversation.
2. ELF001 (Elf)
Top Traits: Encouragement, Humility, Inclusivity
Score: 7.5 / 10
Strengths:
Built emotional safety among peers during a stressful challenge.
Demonstrated awareness of group dynamics and fear responses.
Applied kindness through action and moral support.
Areas for Improvement:
Perspective Shift: Missed the core challenge instruction to narrate from another’s perspective—needed to step outside self.
Emotional Specificity: Surface-level emotional naming—deepen by expressing what others might have felt internally, not just behaviorally.
3. JfpThelast (Jfp)
Top Traits: Gratitude, Forgiveness, Generosity
Score: 7.0 / 10
Strengths:
Honest internal conflict between fear and moral responsibility.
Reflection showed growth from needing recognition to giving selflessly.
Helped others quietly and consistently in real-life situations.
Areas for Improvement:
Scenario Integration: Disconnected between the imagined scenario and real reflection—needs tighter coherence.
Emotional Detail: Descriptions were vague—missed the emotional journey of helping under fear or without praise.
Conclusion Remarks and TakeawaysThought for the Day
“Kindness creates a ripple effect—one act can spark another, even in ways we don’t see.”
The video emphasized that kindness is not always loud or visible, but its impact is lasting. Acts done from the heart—without expectation—tend to come full circle. Participants resonated with this, sharing real-life moments where kindness returned in unexpected ways.📝 General Notes on Conclusion
The session successfully tied personal experiences to the abstract concept of kindness.
Participants were encouraged to go beyond surface-level acts and explore intention, empathy, and timing in kindness.
The feedback loop helped clarify misunderstandings, reinforce emotional awareness, and deepen peer-to-peer engagement.
Storytelling proved to be a powerful tool—when shared authentically, it helped others connect and reflect.
Final Reflection Question:
Do you know how to be a kind person—and why is that even needed today?
Let’s carry that question into the week ahead - tell us more on the comments.
Participants were reminded to stay intentional in their weekly actions and prepare for next week's session on Listening, a natural continuation of the kindness theme.
Sandra's story reminds me an incident happened about 30 years back. I was very busy dropping my eldest son in his college as I had to reach my school as early as possible. As I was riding on my scootwr fadt to be on time to my work place, I happened to see a young man trying to hide near the wastebin placed by the Government . To my surprise, I saw him almost naked. I felt pity on him and movedto the nearest textile shop and purchaded along cloth which cold cover his body . I went ba k to the person who appeared to be a beggar , and I offered this ' mundu ' to him .The joy he had on his face came out through words. He shouted with gratitude and wonder. Even this moment I am able to see his face. I thank God for giving me a chance to make a youngster happy.
Kindness is more than just small acts. it’s about deeply understanding and responding to others' needs with empathy. The session emphasized that even simple gestures, like Sandra giving a coat to the cook, can have a profound impact. True kindness often requires courage, especially in challenging situations where it may not be easy to act. Additionally, placing ourselves in others’ shoes strengthens emotional connections and fosters genuine relationships. Lastly, kindness creates a ripple effect. one act can inspire many, showing that its true value lies in intention rather than recognition.