Six umbrellas hang from a tree outside Marutamachi subway station in Kyoto, Japan. Beside them, a notice reads: ‘If you have any problems, please take one for free’. I should explain. It is September in Kyoto. The rain showers are short but unpredictable. Some people always carry an umbrella. Some don’t. Some people mind their umbrella with the greatest of care. Some people mislay their umbrella and get very, very wet. Some people borrow an umbrella and remember to give it back. Some forget. Kindness matters A single act of kindness can seem small, especially when the gesture itself is simple. But small acts of kindness tell another person: I noticed you, and your difficulty matters to me. That changes the emotional tone of an ordinary day. Kindness strengthens social connection. It tells us that we are not on our own, even among strangers. In a busy city, an umbrella left for someone you will never meet is a practical symbol of concern: Someone has a problem, someone else anticipated it, and nothing is expected …