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This week was heavy. Between the horrific political assassination of Charlie Kirk, another school shooting outside of Denver, and the anniversary of 9/11, it’s impossible not to feel the weight of the world.

When things stack up like this, the internet pulls us towards outrage, noise and divisiveness. But there’s another option: choosing kindness in small, deliberate ways. Tell the people in your life you love them. Check in on a friend. Give someone the benefit of the doubt. Offer grace instead of judgment. Reach across the aisle. Buy a meal for someone in need. Step away from social media and spend more time listening to, and engaging with, the real world around you.

Violence, political or otherwise, has absolutely no place in our society. The core principle of the democratic experiment in this country is free speech, and the ability to debate, protest, and disagree with fellow citizens without resorting to physical harm. Unfortunately, social media, dangerous rhetoric and fear mongering have massively polluted political discourse, deepened division and normalized hostility. First-principles, rational thinking is in short supply. As are humility, compassion and empathy.

The truth is we can’t control much of what happens in the headlines. But we can control how we treat the people right in front of us. That is where change actually begins. Start small. Kindness scales.

Also, put your devices away this weekend. Get offline. Go for a walk. Build something with your hands. Swim in the ocean. Write a letter to someone you love. Yes, a letter, using pen and paper. Make art. Get plenty of sunshine, and then watch the sunset without needing to take a picture of it.

And most importantly, be nice to one another. It doesn't cost anything. The world needs more of it right now.