An Interview with Sara Yahia: On Kindness, Curiosity, and Choosing to Show Up

People often ask me the same handful of questions. About kindness. About how I see the world. About why I do what I do. Instead of answering them one by one in scattered conversations, I thought I’d put them all here. Please think of this as an answer to your most frequently asked questions, in my own words.

Q: Why kindness? Out of all values, why hang your hat on that one?

Sara Yahia: Kindness is the one currency that never crashes since you can invest it anywhere and it always pays back in some form. Power fades, trends expire, intelligence can be intimidating, but kindness? That lingers. People may not remember your job title or your clever remark, but they will remember how you made them feel. And I’d rather be remembered warmly than brilliantly.

Q: Isn’t kindness just… being “nice”?

Sara Yahia: Oh, no. Being nice is agreeing when you don’t mean it. Kindness is caring enough to be honest and delivering honesty in a way that builds rather than breaks. It’s not sugar-coating, it’s soul-coating. Sometimes the kindest thing you can do is to tell someone, “You’re selling yourself short,” or “You deserve better.” That takes guts. Niceness seeks approval. Kindness seeks connection with genuine efforts.

Q: Who taught you to be this way?

Sara Yahia: A cocktail of people and faith. My family, who gave me models of empathy. Friends, who reminded me that kindness isn’t weakness. And strangers, so many strangers, who showed me how one small act can completely shift someone’s day and life. I’ve learned as much from a taxi driver offering me an unexpected pep talk as from any mentor. The truth is, we’re all constantly teaching one another how to treat people.

Q: When was the last time kindness surprised you?

Sara Yahia: 10 years ago. An old Indian Muslim couple opened their home on a night when I found myself locked out of my house, with the keys inside, and my relatives out of town. As far as I remember, I never slept as well as that same night. To this day, I think of them and their kindness. They stay in my mind, heart, and prayers. Kindness often comes from unexpected corners. Even a door held open when I wasn’t looking, or a genuine text checking on my well-being, counts. Those moments are tiny, but they’re proof that kindness doesn’t need a stage; it thrives in the background.

Q: Where do you find the energy to keep giving? Don’t you burn out?

Sara Yahia: Never! Honestly, I sometimes feel guilty because I derive so much joy from it. Here is the secret: when kindness is real, it actually fuels you. Think of it like a renewable energy source; you give some away, but the act itself recharges you. This is why laughter is contagious. Unconsciously, we smile when seeing others happy. Kindness brings a breeze of fresh air to our souls. Of course, boundaries matter. Being kind doesn’t mean being a doormat. I say no often, but in a kind manner, which keeps the dignity intact for me and for the other person.

Q: How do you practice kindness without expecting anything back?

Sara Yahia: Because expecting something in return cancels the magic of true kindness, giving without any strings attached is the ultimate expression of kindness. If it comes back, wonderful. If not, you’ve still added something good to the world. That’s the whole point. It’s like planting trees you may never sit under, but you trust someone will enjoy the shade.

Q: What’s the one thing people get wrong about kindness?

Sara Yahia: People often think it’s soft or a weakness. In reality, it's one of the toughest choices you can make in a hard world; it requires restraint, courage, and sometimes going against the crowd. It’s not passive, it’s powerful. Choosing kindness is like choosing to speak a different language in a noisy room. People notice.

Final thought?

Sara Yahia: Kindness isn’t a project, it’s a practice. It’s not about grand gestures; it’s about consistent ones. It’s remembering that people are carrying invisible battles, and deciding you’ll make their load a little lighter instead of heavier. At the end of the day, I’d rather leave behind a trail of kindness than a résumé of achievements. And if that makes me predictable, I’m perfectly okay with it.

Curious to see kindness in action? Explore all the ways I’m spreading it on Random Acts of Kindness Foundation and Time for Kindness… Here