A public space becomes kinder when everyone leaves room for a different use.

Shared places work on a quiet mutual allowance. The park holds the sprinting dog, the sleeping shift worker, the children’s game and the person reading, but only while each of them keeps their use a little smaller than it could be. When one use expands to fill everything, the others do not argue, they simply leave.

In whatever you share this week, a bus, a gym, a library, a hallway, take slightly less room than you are entitled to. Move the bag, lower the volume, shift over before being asked. The habit is small and it is contagious.