World Kindness Day: Building bridges between people

"Like a bridge over troubled water / I will lay me down" is a line of a famous song from the 1970s. A promise that is more relevant than ever on this year’s World Kindness Day.

Bridges connect, bridges can be burned down: the structure has to serve for many metaphors. That is why a bridge is not just a functional construction, it is a projection screen for people's feelings and actions.

Bridges do not leave people indifferent. Some are enchanting, others cause reverential and fearful amazement. And they are omnipresent - not only as actual buildings, but also as metaphors and images.

As in the song "Bridge over troubled water", which Paul Simon wrote in the early 1970s and which was then sung by Art Garfunkel largely solo. "Like a bridge over troubled water / I will lay me down". A promise of the protagonist to his fellow men: Like a bridge I will serve you. I will be there for you and I will hold you serenely above the troubled waters, as the bridge does.

And that is what counts. Especially in these extraordinary times it is important for many people to stand together and be a bridge over troubled waters for each other. The World Kindness Day, which takes place every year on November 13th, gives the opportunity to consciously place kindness and goodness once again more in the center of one's own actions and thoughts.

A good start. But wouldn't it be wonderful if every day was a kindness day? Because one thing is evident: Human relationships need care if they are to last. And it is often the little things in everyday life that distinguish a good day from a bad one. Friendly gestures usually require little effort and are done in seconds, but they have a great effect at the end of the day.

By the way, this is also something that connects people with bridges: Bridges also need care and attention so that they can fulfill their task long and safely. One of the easiest ways to protect structures is to use silane-based building protection products that Evonik markets under the Protectosil® brand name. As deep impregnation, they prevent water and harmful substances dissolved in it from penetrating into and attacking the building material. The invisible, permanent protection against harmful environmental influences can extend the service life of concrete bridges or public buildings by several decades.

But there is one small difference: While one application of Protectosil® is sufficient for many years, friendliness and kindness are appreciated by people every day.