Kindness is one of those words that on the surface seems easily dismissable - something you might pat on the head, say "that's nice" and send it off. The reality is that kindness--different than nicety, civility, or politeness--is a great force. It requires a great deal of mettle to wield, especially when we're met with fear, hurt, or shame. And it definitely isn't a clean or easy thing.

A few questions I'm asking myself about kindness: How does kindness change us? What's the relationship between kindness and truth? What role does kindness play in leadership, learning, and creativity? How is kindness different from nicety, civility, or politeness?