21/05/2026
My fourth WOHASU ® The World Happiness Summit —celebrating its 10th year, hosted this year at the amazing Nova School of Business and Economics in the picturesque seaside town of Cascais, Portugal. 🇵🇹
This year’s theme: Kindness for a Happier Life. 🙌 🙏
Assumed often as just a ‘nicety’—or soft and sentimental—it’s SO much more! That’s the part we underestimate.
Kindness isn’t just an individual act. It sets a tone. It builds safety, trust, and appreciation. It changes the ‘status quo’ into something meaningful, special, and impactful.
I saw it play out in real time yesterday, at Lisbon airport on my way home.
I was standing in a long, slow-moving queue for coffee and lunch. The kind of queue where everyone is a little resigned—eyes glazed, energy low. A family of four joined at the back—baby on dads chest, toddler fidgety swinging off mums bag-laden arm, parents visibly weary. 😵💫
Then suddenly, a young girl’s voice cut through the air from behind the counter. Loud and clear: “YOU AT THE BACK—YES, YOU—come forward.”
The whole room turned to watch. This observant staff member had seen them—15 or so heads back.
People sprang into action. Chairs were pulled in. Bags lifted out of the way for the family and their push-chair and trolley.
I felt a pang in my chest. A memory of how tough airports queues can be from when my own kids were younger. ❣️
This simple act of kindness really touched me. Not just me. Weary faces softened and brightened. People smiled at each other and commented on how nice that was to see.❤️
An unspoken, collective agreement: this is what we do here—we help.
Kindness is contagious.
And today—nothing special but it still felt meaningful. I let someone with a small basket of shopping cut in front of my loaded trolley. He appreciated it. And 'I' felt good. We both felt a little lifted. The cashier, too.
Kindness has a ripple effect. And goodness knows, we need them.
And at work? Powerful too.
“Kindness isn't soft. It's a superpower for leadership, connection, innovation, and human flourishing” — WOHASU
The evidence is strong. The benefits:
✅ Reduces stress and risk of burnout
✅Better teamwork and performance
✅Stronger social connection
✅Reduced loneliness
✅Overall, boosting wellbeing—for the recipient, the giver, and for those around them.
Kindness is contagious, it’s far-reaching, it's impactful, it’s good for us and it's good for business.
This has been my first post summit reflection…
With you for your wellbeing and success,
Sandie