Kindness Is Taught: A New Season of the #OpenHandCampaign

Reviving a family tradition of giving—now through the eyes of my son.

At the start of 2025, I sat down with my scissors, thumbtacks, and Pinterest printouts to make my annual vision board. I filled it with big dreams, small goals, inspiration from my dream life, and motivators from my real one. I love that process of dreaming big, setting intentions, and visually putting my goals into the universe. But this year, something shifted.

Instead of only looking ahead, I found myself looking back. What actually brought me joy in the past? What moments made me feel most alive, most connected, most like me? And how can I recreate those moments now—within the whirlwind of raising two little boys, working full-time, and trying to maintain some sense of balance?

What I uncovered was simple:

It wasn’t the big milestones. It was the little, creative moments—making videos, sharing stories, connecting with others. It was playing sports and laughing outside with my kids. And it was giving.

There’s just something about random acts of kindness that lights me up. They bring a kind of joy that feels pure, energizing, and contagious.

That love for giving started early. My family always made a point to show up for others—buying coffee for the person behind us, helping friends move, or donating to GoFundMe campaigns for people we knew (and even those we didn’t). It was never about recognition. It was just a part of how we moved through the world: quietly, intentionally, with an open hand.

After college, I started a nonprofit called the Open Hand Campaign, where on the 11th of every month, I’d post and encourage others to do a random act of kindness. I loved the spontaneity of it—the fun of it being unplanned and unexpected. It became a hobby, a personal project, and something I shared with my mom that brought us even closer.

One of my favorite Open Hand memories was during the holiday season in Albany. My mom and I would go shopping and pick out a bunch of random presents—some for women, some for men, and most for little kids and families. We’d wrap everything up, load our car to the brim, and head downtown. Then we’d drive around looking for people to surprise. If we saw a family on the sidewalk, we’d yell, “There’s one!” and slam the car in reverse (we never got into an accident, but wow—we had some close calls).

It was chaotic, hilarious, and full of heart. We laughed until we cried and made a whole day out of it. These are the memories that stick.

Check out the video from the 2015 Christmas Open Hand Campaign:

I kept OHC going for about a year, but when I moved to Nashville, life changed. I still did random acts of kindness here and there, but it wasn’t as consistent or organized. It slowly faded to the background—but never left my heart.

So now, almost ten years later, I’m bringing it back. Only this time, I’m weaving it into Balance + Bloom—because this isn’t just a project anymore. It’s a way of living, a value system, and something I want to pass on to my kids.

I do believe kindness is taught. Yes, kids are naturally sweet and curious—but the act of choosing to be kind, of going out of your way for someone else, is something they learn from us. And in today’s world, I want to raise boys who lead with empathy.

This month, we kicked off the new season of the Open Hand Campaign as a family—and it was all Greyson’s idea.

We were talking about what we could do for someone else. I mentioned maybe we could buy someone’s dinner. But Greyson had a different thought. He said, “Get a toy for a little boy.” That was all I needed to hear.

We headed to CVS, where he carefully picked out a big blue toy car, proudly carried it to the register, and helped wrap it up. Then we made our way to Harvard Square on a Friday evening around 6 p.m.—a time when the sidewalks are buzzing.

After walking around for a bit, we spotted a dad with his little boy, probably around three years old. We approached them gently and asked if we could give the little boy a gift. His expression was blank—he was shy and probably a little confused—but his dad lit up immediately. He kept smiling and saying, “He’s going to love this.”

There was no big moment. No dramatic reaction. Just a quiet exchange between strangers. But the joy in that dad’s eyes? That was everything.

The whole thing took maybe 20 minutes. But the impact was lasting—especially for Greyson. That night, during our nightly “pillow talk” gratitude check-in, he whispered:

“Little boy happy. Toy car.”

He remembered. And it stuck. He brought it up again at nap the next day, and again the following night—both times, completely unprompted. Just his little voice, his tiny finger tapping his chin, reflecting on the joy he felt by making someone else happy.

It honestly melted me. I don’t know if it’ll become a core memory for him, but I do know it planted something important—a seed of empathy, of awareness, of joy in giving.

And I can’t wait until Ellis, our youngest, is old enough to join in. I already picture Greyson teaching him how to do it. (Note to self: continue teaching stranger danger alongside these acts of kindness—parenting is all about balance, right?)

So that’s where we are. A new season of the Open Hand Campaign is officially underway. Nothing fancy. No pressure. Just one small act of kindness on the 11th of every month.

And if you’d like to help support these monthly moments, you can join the Founder’s Plan, which offers the ability to donate an amount of your choice to the Open Hand Campaign.

Huge thank you to the two people who already signed up—your support made Greyson’s first act of kindness possible.

The Founder’s Plan helps fund these family-led acts of kindness while giving you access to upcoming e-guides like birth prep checklists, favorite travel products, toddler must-haves, and vision board templates. But more than anything, it’s a way to keep the spirit of the Open Hand Campaign going—fueled by joy, generosity, and a whole lot of heart.

Whether you’re here every week, or just stopping in for a story, I’m so grateful you’re here. I’ll keep showing up in this space to share life as it unfolds—one little act of kindness at a time.

With love,

Kaylee