If Kindness is a drug, surely a trial will prove its efficacy.  Well I was that human trial and its results are compelling.

I first contemplated a job at the Kindness epicentre some months ago when I came for a visit. I didn’t realise its lofty status then but appearances can be deceiving.

Kindness was the whole team stopping their morning to meet with me, giving me their undivided attention and taking me on a tour of the hospital.  I was made to feel welcome, included and already a part of the future. 

Kindness was a series of pre application phone calls that allayed my anxiety at the prospect of change.  These calls offered flexibility and put me in control.  Kindness was being supported through the interview process with advice and warmth and the opportunity to meet most people on my interview panel from within the organisation.  Kindness was coming to meet me, sat where I was in a coffee shop, after the interview to offer congratulations on the post.  Kindness  was the behavioural nudge of asking if I was excited to be starting.  Kindness was valuing me as an individual and honouring my diversity. Kindness was saying goodbye to old colleagues with handbaked cake, gifts and card.  Kindness was welcoming junior doctors in with individualised cards, gifts and and picnic.

Kindness was twitter threads on changing the culture of medicine and treating doctors like humans for a change.  Kindness was the #Croydonlove hashtag and the microcosm of an online community that immediately welcomed me into post.  Kindness was whatsapp emojis with smiley eyes and flushed cheeks.  Kindness was going above and beyond duty, being available around the clock, always ready to respond. 

Kindness was investing in me as an individual and setting aside time to listen to my hopes and dreams.  Kindness was candour, openness and collaboration from day one.  Kindness was building a shared vision and aligning mutually supportive goals.  Kindness was feeling equal and well matched.

And soon where I had been anticipating fear I was surprised to feel joy and excitement.  I had a spring in my step and purpose to my day.  Every meeting a delight bringing pastures new to roam.

I was surprised to see my head clear and the ability to think, unimpinged, return.  Suddenly I could think my way logically through a problem from beginning to end and find my own resources.  This had never happened before in healthcare – something had always interrupted or gas lighted me.

Then my sense of humour appeared, quite by surprise.  Was this wit and a sense of fun and, my goodness, where had it been my whole career?

Then the inspiration descended.  Never a morning person and never a poet, I found myself waking at dawn, my mind brimming with creative ideas bursting forth onto the page.  Corpus callosum buzzing like a spaghetti junction, thoughts moving back and forth, left and right.  Creativity unfolded – suddenly it was out with poetry and rich prose, language and metaphor.  Rhythm and beat.

And then there was the synchronicity.  A thought in my head simultaneously tweeted by someone in the organisation.  A pang of fear and someone addresses it.  A longing for company and an old friend appears in the concourse.  I bump into ex-colleagues and feel like am home.

Every day has brought new surprises and new joys but I think the best part is companionship, camaraderie and of course the weight loss!

But that’s not to say the kindness infusion has had no side effects particularly for the unaccustomed.  I warn you of the heady rush and its opening kick, the endorphins will take you by surprise.  I warn you that it’s an emotional rollercoaster and what goes up, must come down.  And too large a dose administered in one day will trigger reflexive outpourings as you shed the barren wasteland for lush meadows.  But eventually your heart will settle and you’ll look to a new landscape, it coursing through your hitherto parched veins.

Kindness is beauty, it reaps fruit and it makes people happy.  It is the forgotten human investment and will transform your life, your organisation and ultimately the universe.  It is a culture shock, but it’s a culture that needs shocking. So go forth and conquer.  In a world where you can be anything, be kind.