Dr. Kennedy Paron
About the Author

Hello and welcome to this positive place where we are keen on kindness! My name is Kennedy, and I am blessed. I audibly laugh as my first instinct is to say that I am a graduate student in Early Childhood Education, Admin and Leadership at the University of Michigan. As I love to learn, and this is a huge facet of what makes me, it is understandable that this would be my subconscious response when describing myself, however, I do not think it is the best response, or the kindest to yourself. You are so much more than the degree(s) you earn, the knowledge you possess, or the rigorous academia in which you pursue. This is coming from someone who truly enjoys learning so much that they intend on pursuing a Doctorate someday. I have asked myself why many times. Am I in pursuit of it for the title, prestige, monetary compensation and job stability? No! I love to learn so much that I cannot see myself without it. I know haha nerd alert! All joking aside, I feel extremely fortunate that I was a 26 week micro-preemie with a 15% chance of living and if I did the prognosis for my physical and cognitive abilities looking grim. Yet, I am still here! Living, breathing, eternally grateful and under the mindset that I am here for a reason. From my parents being told if I survived, that I would never walk on my own, to running a marathon, and some half marathons, to getting a knee injury and needing surgery to repair a meniscal tare,and being back to not running, to finally healing and then my asthma flares cause me not to run again yet again. Life gives you challenges, but we must face them with kindness and grace. This shows our character in its truest form. All of these challenges are the true reason I have such a zest for life and am so happy most of the time. Little milestones were always celebrated, days are enjoyed, and breathes are not taken for granted, because they were once counted. I am proof that little things can change the world in big ways. Upon my “grand entrance,” as I jokingly refer to my premature birth, I weighed only one pound, eleven ounces! Yep, that’s right, no more than the weight of a can of soup, yet I think that I turned out all right. I was in the NICU for four months, and I am living breathing proof that not only miracles exist, but kindness does too. Without my doctors and nurses being so giving of their time, effort, and kindness to both me and my amazing parents, I would not be here today. Life is full of surprises, funny how my early birth was the biggest shock and surprise for my parents, yet I hate them so much! Haha funny how God works! God takes you on such a beautiful journey when you are least expecting it. He takes your life, and uses you as a tool to help others using your gifts.I truly believe that my purpose in life is to spread kindness and love, touching the hearts of others in the name of Jesus who has given me so much. In five years, I went from the girl who was so confident it was almost sickening to going through trials I never thought I would endure. However, this is the beautiful and sometimes hilarious, yet very blessed life of Ken! I went from the girl who adamantly stated that I would never work with kids, to teaching twelve three year olds every day, who honestly are twelve of the names I thank God for every night and have became some of my biggest blessings. I went from saying I needed to do something clinic, when in reality that was the part I hated so much about my time with a past educational endeavor, no matter how much I internally pleaded with myself and tried to convince myself I loved it. God knew I wasn’t happy, and so He was KIND to me and made me realize what mattered. Sometimes when we have internal conflict and doubt, it is really God whispering to us that we need to make a different decision. When God rocks my boat, He is really trying to keep me afloat, because He knows what is best for me. He knows me better than I know myself, because He created me! When I look back on my struggles, I realize God was looking out for me. One struggle broke me…and I mean really broke my heart, yet God put my heart back together with his grace and the help of those who loved me being so kind. Flash forward and I am happily engaged to the love of my life. A man who shows God’s grace at every turn. After I said yes when he proposed, we took a minute to thank God and pray together. He is my best friend, and I cannot wait to live a life of love, faith, laughter and kindness together. God uses our gifts and abilities to serve His people and His plan how HE wants to, not how WE want Him to. When I finally let go of control and gave my stress to God was when I realized it was okay to choose happiness over what I felt was a more familiar path. When I chose happiness, my kindness tripled! When you are happy you will fully be able to give more kindness to others. If you aren’t able, take a step back and access why you do not have much or any to give. This is a necessary part of being kind to yourself, the person we tend to neglect most. Be kind to yourself and be you! There is only one you, and if you are not authentically and unapologetically yourself, the world will not be able to be the world God intended it to be when he created you. There is a reason you are here right now among the people you are, and in the place you are, we just have to figure out why!

For so long I have been told that my greatest gift is my ability to be kind no matter what situation I am in. At first, I will be honest, growing up as the kid who had always been told that I was the “kindest kid” kind of seemed like a cop out to me. As I grew up and still heard it, I felt like it was more of default phrase due to not recognizing other attributes that I brought to the table. Through high school and even undergraduate I would thank those who said it and smile, just to be internally kicking myself for not being good enough at another attribute to knock this one from being the winning compliment so to speak. It is not until recently,, nearly two years into my graduate studies, that I am emotionally intelligent enough to realize that all along I have had the best quality going for me. As time passes and all else fades away, kindness remains. Kindness is what you are remembered for. At the end of the day I have learned you are remembered more for how you make someone feel than you are for your looks, educational success, research achievements, success in sports (even at the collegiate level or your job title, Kindness is essential to the prosperity of the world and the good of mankind. If we do not foster kindness when interacting with others, we will continue to crumble as a society! I believe in my heart that kindness is the greatest power we have in the universe. It is free to give, and even though it can sometimes not be easy to give, it is the most lifechanging and selfless gift that we can bestow onto others. Just as Jesus gave us the lifegiving and underserved gift of grace, and keeps doing so everyday even when we are so undeserving, it is my hope that we too can give unwavering kindness to each person we meet, no matter how much we feel they “don’t deserve it.” That is such a bizarre statement to me… “they do not deserve my kindness.” No one is entitled to any gift, let alone a free one, yet, it is my hope that we do not judge others, for we do not know what they are going through. Someone we think is undeserving of our kindness and love may be going through a battle that they face alone. This could majorly impact their outlook on life and their attitude. Kindness is essential! It is so imperative we are kind, and show children to be kind. If we don’t no one will, and we need to pass on this amazing trait to future generations before it is too late. You can directly impact the future that you will never see by touching the lives of others who will see it; the children. Be kind to and around children, for they will pass this love and kindness on for generations to come. Spread endless waves of kindness, deep in depth and true blue like the sea. Do acts of kindness from the heart like no one is watching. The One person who matters is watching, God sees all the kindness!

Be Kind. Be you!

Love,

Kennedy

About the Author

Want to See the Kindness? Be the Kindness!

In the busy world that we live in, we can often look for goodness and kindness in the world, and often be left feeling disappointed by how truly unkind others can be. I know that I have been there! I truly believe in the good of others, and that everyone has something to offer this world. Everyone is unique and brings something special to this world that no one else can. Day to day, the world can often feel like a loud and selfish place. I encourage you to look past the actions of others if they come off as unkind, and to not let this impact the kindness you show the world. If we let others to stop us from being kind due to their own unkindness, we are just decreasing the kindness in the world even more. I encourage you to increase kindness even more in these situations, and to be the kindness that you wish to see. You will be shining a light of love into the darkness that someone may be experiencing. You never know someone’s situation, and what the reasoning behind their actions are. Everyone has a story. I hope that you, Kindness Warrior, never stop being kind, even if the world seems like an unkind place sometimes. These are the times the world needs us the most. Want to see more kindness? I encourage you to be the kindness. It is amazing what being kind can and, not only for those around us, but for ourselves as well. Kindness always wins!

Be Kind and Be You,

Dr. Kennedy

A Kindness Challenge for Back to School

As summer winds down and comes to an end, this welcomes in another school year. This can mean a new classroom, a new teacher, new classes, and new extra curriculars. With all of these new experiences, I challenge you to make room for new friends. I am not saying to get rid of old friends, however, open your heart to the possibility of making new friends too. You never know what point in someone’s story you are joining. Someone could be going through the roughest chapter in their story and will need a kind and caring friend to be there for them during their storm. Someone could be in the best chapter yet, and feel they have no one to celebrate with them. I challenge you to show kindness to others no matter what chapter of your life you are in. If you are struggling to see the kindness, be the kindness. If enough of us show kindness to others, there will be a lot more inclusion. Always be the person to make more room at their table, never to make someone feel lesser for not having a chair. Invite someone new to sit with you at lunch this year. You never know who you will meet and the lessons they might teach you! Always be the reason someone feels included, not excluded. Be the reason someone sees their own inner beauty, reflected by your love and acceptance of them. As this school year starts, be the reason someone knows they are special and important.

You may never know the impact your actions may have on someone, and that is ok, but I promise you, you will never regret making someone else feel valued, however, you may always regret making them feel the need to sell themselves short.

Be kind, and be you.

Kennedy

God Made You Just the Way He Wanted YOU to Be

So many times we can get caught up in the world’s ideals of perfection. We can think we are not good enough and compare ourselves to others. The truth is; everyone has a story that we are unaware of. The girl with the “perfect” body may struggle with self-esteem issues. The guy who is the star at sports may be his own harshest critique. The truth is, everyone wants to be like someone else in some capacity. We need to learn to be kind to ourselves and realize that God made us just the way He wanted to. Our flaws are beautiful in His eyes. Each of us has things we would change, but part of being kind to ourselves, and to God, is to look at ourselves as a work of art made by the Lord. When we look at the being that made the most prominent artists in the world, and decided the world needed one of us in it too, it makes the feelings of wanting to change sound silly. The same God that made the ocean, the mountains, the most beautiful sunsets, also decided we are needed too. When we look to the sky and see a beautiful sunset, we admire the beauty. Seldom do we say its beautiful, but it needs more pink or orange. We do not critique other masterpieces of God, so why do we critique ourselves so harshly? When we look at the beauty in others, it is so easy to compliment them. We see God’s beautiful hand in their creation. We need to remember we are equally a beautiful creation, one in which God felt we needed every flaw as part of our work of art, our unique display. Finally, when you see something beautiful in someone, let them know. It will make them feel good, and it is complimenting one of God’s works of art, much like a living prayer.

Love,

Kennedy

About the Author

About the Author

Hello and welcome to this positive place where we are keen on kindness! My name is Kennedy, and I am blessed. I audibly laugh as my first instinct is to say that I am a graduate student in Early Childhood Education, Admin and Leadership at the University of Michigan. As I love to learn, and this is a huge facet of what makes me, it is understandable that this would be my subconscious response when describing myself, however, I do not think it is the best response, or the kindest to yourself. You are so much more than the degree(s) you earn, the knowledge you possess, or the rigorous academia in which you pursue. This is coming from someone who truly enjoys learning so much that they intend on pursuing a Doctorate someday. I have asked myself why many times. Am I in pursuit of it for the title, prestige, monetary compensation and job stability? No! I love to learn so much that I cannot see myself without it. I know haha nerd alert! All joking aside, I feel extremely fortunate that I was a 26 week micro-preemie with a 15% chance of living and if I did the prognosis for my physical and cognitive abilities looking grim. Yet, I am still here! Living, breathing, eternally grateful and under the mindset that I am here for a reason. From my parents being told if I survived, that I would never walk on my own, to running a marathon, and some half marathons, to getting a knee injury and needing surgery to repair a meniscal tare,and being back to not running, to finally healing and then my asthma flares cause me not to run again yet again. Life gives you challenges, but we must face them with kindness and grace. This shows our character in its truest form. All of these challenges are the true reason I have such a zest for life and am so happy most of the time. Little milestones were always celebrated, days are enjoyed, and breathes are not taken for granted, because they were once counted. I am proof that little things can change the world in big ways. Upon my “grand entrance,” as I jokingly refer to my premature birth, I weighed only one pound, eleven ounces! Yep, that’s right, no more than the weight of a can of soup, yet I think that I turned out all right. I was in the NICU for four months, and I am living breathing proof that not only miracles exist, but kindness does too. Without my doctors and nurses being so giving of their time, effort, and kindness to both me and my amazing parents, I would not be here today. Life is full of surprises, funny how my early birth was the biggest shock and surprise for my parents, yet I hate them so much! Haha funny how God works! God takes you on such a beautiful journey when you are least expecting it. He takes your life, and uses you as a tool to help others using your gifts.I truly believe that my purpose in life is to spread kindness and love, touching the hearts of others in the name of Jesus who has given me so much. In five years, I went from the girl who was so confident it was almost sickening to going through trials I never thought I would endure. However, this is the beautiful and sometimes hilarious, yet very blessed life of Ken! I went from the girl who adamantly stated that I would never work with kids, to teaching twelve three year olds every day, who honestly are twelve of the names I thank God for every night and have became some of my biggest blessings. I went from saying I needed to do something clinic, when in reality that was the part I hated so much about my time with a past educational endeavor, no matter how much I internally pleaded with myself and tried to convince myself I loved it. God knew I wasn’t happy, and so He was KIND to me and made me realize what mattered. Sometimes when we have internal conflict and doubt, it is really God whispering to us that we need to make a different decision. When God rocks my boat, He is really trying to keep me afloat, because He knows what is best for me. He knows me better than I know myself, because He created me! When I look back on my struggles, I realize God was looking out for me. One struggle broke me…and I mean really broke my heart, yet God put my heart back together with his grace and the help of those who loved me being so kind. Flash forward and I am happily engaged to the love of my life. A man who shows God’s grace at every turn. After I said yes when he proposed, we took a minute to thank God and pray together. He is my best friend, and I cannot wait to live a life of love, faith, laughter and kindness together. God uses our gifts and abilities to serve His people and His plan how HE wants to, not how WE want Him to. When I finally let go of control and gave my stress to God was when I realized it was okay to choose happiness over what I felt was a more familiar path. When I chose happiness, my kindness tripled! When you are happy you will fully be able to give more kindness to others. If you aren’t able, take a step back and access why you do not have much or any to give. This is a necessary part of being kind to yourself, the person we tend to neglect most. Be kind to yourself and be you! There is only one you, and if you are not authentically and unapologetically yourself, the world will not be able to be the world God intended it to be when he created you. There is a reason you are here right now among the people you are, and in the place you are, we just have to figure out why!

For so long I have been told that my greatest gift is my ability to be kind no matter what situation I am in. At first, I will be honest, growing up as the kid who had always been told that I was the “kindest kid” kind of seemed like a cop out to me. As I grew up and still heard it, I felt like it was more of default phrase due to not recognizing other attributes that I brought to the table. Through high school and even undergraduate I would thank those who said it and smile, just to be internally kicking myself for not being good enough at another attribute to knock this one from being the winning compliment so to speak. It is not until recently,, nearly two years into my graduate studies, that I am emotionally intelligent enough to realize that all along I have had the best quality going for me. As time passes and all else fades away, kindness remains. Kindness is what you are remembered for. At the end of the day I have learned you are remembered more for how you make someone feel than you are for your looks, educational success, research achievements, success in sports (even at the collegiate level or your job title, Kindness is essential to the prosperity of the world and the good of mankind. If we do not foster kindness when interacting with others, we will continue to crumble as a society! I believe in my heart that kindness is the greatest power we have in the universe. It is free to give, and even though it can sometimes not be easy to give, it is the most lifechanging and selfless gift that we can bestow onto others. Just as Jesus gave us the lifegiving and underserved gift of grace, and keeps doing so everyday even when we are so undeserving, it is my hope that we too can give unwavering kindness to each person we meet, no matter how much we feel they “don’t deserve it.” That is such a bizarre statement to me… “they do not deserve my kindness.” No one is entitled to any gift, let alone a free one, yet, it is my hope that we do not judge others, for we do not know what they are going through. Someone we think is undeserving of our kindness and love may be going through a battle that they face alone. This could majorly impact their outlook on life and their attitude. Kindness is essential! It is so imperative we are kind, and show children to be kind. If we don’t no one will, and we need to pass on this amazing trait to future generations before it is too late. You can directly impact the future that you will never see by touching the lives of others who will see it; the children. Be kind to and around children, for they will pass this love and kindness on for generations to come. Spread endless waves of kindness, deep in depth and true blue like the sea. Do acts of kindness from the heart like no one is watching. The One person who matters is watching, God sees all the kindness!

Be Kind. Be you!

Love,

Kennedy