Dude Be Kind 2023 Is Here

ZANESVILLE, Ohio – The Muskingum County Commissioners officially proclaimed the week of February 12, through the 18th, as ‘Dude Be Kind’ Week.

6-years-ago, Muskingum County Educator Kim Tatman started the ‘Dude Be Kind’ initiative to remind people of being considerate to others, and now that push has evolved into being recognized by local governments.

“We were fortunate to get the commissioners in all four counties we serve, which is Guernsey, Muskingum, Noble and Perry Counties to proclaim this an official week,” Tatman said. “And in Guernsey and Muskingum Counties, they have the capacity to light their courthouses yellow and with that we were thinking smiley-face yellow. And so they will be lighting the courthouse during the week.”

This week’s theme is ‘Kindness in our Community’ and each day people are encouraged to administer the kind act that is listed for that day. Tatman says kindness radiates outward and the positivity can go well beyond the initial gesture.      

“What we have found about acts of kindness is it’s a reciprocal, kind of giving situation. So when you are the person who is receiving the kindness, obviously you feel really good about that but what you find and what research has shown is that the person who is doing the act of kindness also gets that warm feeling themselves. And so when you give, you get something and when you receive you can get something,” Tatman said.

The Dude Be Kind initiative can be followed on the Mid-East Facebook page or by entering the hashtag #DBK2023.