A little bit of kindness (World Kindness Day)
Today is World Kindness Day!!! (13 November)
What can you do to be kind? What would being kind do for you and someone else and just a few other cute things about kindness.
What have you done to be kind to someone?
@anchoredwithhope, I love that you shared that today is World Kindness Day! That is so wonderful. Hmmmmm, what can I do to be kind today? As simple as it sounds, maybe just give a friendly smile and hello to everyone I see today. I've noticed that the more I smile when talking with people, the more genuinely happy I am. And of course, being kind to others makes them feel a sense of warmth as well! :) I'm going to be more conscientious today about my kindness, and though I should do so every day, I'm excited to start this particular day in that way. Thanks again!
A random act of kindness is a selfless act preformed by a person or a group wishing to either assist or to cheer up a individual person is to be kind, thoughtful , use your manners, give out compliments , volunteer , and or forgive someone.
Kindness. A lot of people see kindness as more of an obligation than a choice. You can choose to be kind to someone.
Here's a few things you can do as a random act of kindness:
🌼 Say something nice to someone. It's as easy as saying. I like your outfit, you have a beautiful smile. Compliments go deep down and leave a happy memory to someone. Also seeing the effect it has on someone leaves you feeling better.
🌼 Be a decent person in public. Hold the door for an old lady. Give another car a turn. Say thank you when someone has nice road manners. Smile at a stranger.
🌼 Smile!!! A little smile can spread like a wildfire. One smile leads to another and who doesn't feel good seeing someone smile?!
🌼 Be positive! If you're having a tough day and everyone feels down then say something positive.. It will cheer everyone up and make everyone full of energy again!
🌼 If you're in a long line and you see someone who looks like they want to cry or an old lady who wants to pass out, why not let them go in front of you? It will be the happiest moment to someone and they will forever remember you as a kind person.
🌼 Make a joke. No matter how dumb it is. If everyone feels awkward or if you're all stressed and nervous then make a joke, not a rude one. Laughter is the best source of happiness .
🌼 Teach someone something. If you know a foreigner or someone at work or in school who is having a hard time understanding something and you know something, teach it to them. They will be so grateful!
🌼 If you have a cranky, mean boss. Give him/her a compliment. Tell them how hard they are working. Buy them a coffee they like. Not to get a promotion. Just to show them kindness. Without them you wouldn't have a job.
🌼 Do a task for someone that they don't like. If someone has to wash a car or do some gardening work or maybe even wash the dishes but they can't stand doing it, help them out. They will love you!
🌼 Food. Yes. I said it. Food. Give cupcakes, cookies, chocolate.. Anything... Give some to someone. If you're at work or visiting friends. Give them a treat.
🌼 If you're in school and you notice a new face, say hi! Make someone feel welcome! You might have no idea what effect that would have on them.
🌼 Don't get angry. If someone is mean to you or makes you angry. Just smile and be nice to them. They will be so stunned and probably feel bad for being mean to you.
🌼 Hugs. Oh my goodness! HUGS! Hug friends, hug family, hug a stranger, hug a tree. Just hug!
🌼 If you know someone who is searching for a job or a house, ask them what they want and help them search. Tell them about a place you know that might help.
🌼 Listen to someone. And I don't mean be a 7 cups listener. We often get so caught up in our own problems that we forget to listen to others. Even if you can't help. Just be there and let them know they're not alone.
🌼 Share a beautiful quote or a great song. A few good words/lyrics could really cheer someone up.
🌼 Do something silly. If you make a funny face or maybe just enjoy the moment and make the best of it.
🌼 Do some volunteering. Animal shelter, retirement home, children's hospital. You have no idea what that will do for your soul and for other people.
These are just a few ideas. What do you do as an act of kindness? Or what do you think someone can do for you?
Xxx
The effect of kindness.
Like all actions, kindness leaves a mark on people. What effect does kindness have?
(Published on May 30, 2011 by David R. Hamilton PhD)
1) Kindness Makes us Happier
When we do something kind for someone else, we feel good. On a spiritual level, many people feel that this is because it is the right thing to do and so were tapping into something deep and profound inside of us that says, ‘This is who I am.
On a biochemical level, it is believed that the good feeling we get is due to elevated levels of the brains natural versions of morphine and heroin, which we know as endogenous opioids. They cause elevated levels of dopamine in the brain and so we get a natural high, often referred to as ‘Helpers High.
2) Kindness Gives us Healthier Hearts
Acts of kindness are often accompanied by emotional warmth. Emotional warmth produces the hormone, oxytocin, in the brain and throughout the body. Of recent interest is its significant role in the cardiovascular system.
Oxytocin causes the release of a chemical called nitric oxide in blood vessels, which dilates (expands) the blood vessels. This reduces blood pressure and therefore oxytocin is known as a ‘cardioprotective hormone because it protects the heart (by lowering blood pressure). The key is that acts kindness can produce oxytocin and therefore kindness can be said to be cardioprotective.
3) Kindness Slows Ageing
Ageing on a biochemical level is a combination of many things, but two culprits that speed the process are Free Radicals and Inflammation, both of which result from making unhealthy lifestyle choices.
But remarkable research now shows that oxytocin (that we produce through emotional warmth) reduces levels of free radicals and inflammation in the cardiovascular system and so slows ageing at source. Incidentally these two culprits also play a major role in heart disease so this is also another reason why kindness is good for the heart.
There have also been suggestions in the scientific journals of the strong link between compassion and the activity of the vagus nerve. The vagus nerve, as well as regulating heart rate, also controls inflammation levels in the body. One study that used the Tibetan Buddhists ‘Loving Kindness Compassion meditation found that kindness and compassion did, in fact, reduce inflammation in the body, mostly likely due to its effects on the vagus nerve.
4) Kindness Makes for Better Relationships
This is one of the most obvious points. We all know that we like people who show us kindness. This is because kindness reduces the emotional distance between two people and so we feel more ‘bonded. Its something that is so strong in us that its actually a genetic thing. We are wired for kindness.
Our evolutionary ancestors had to learn to cooperate with one another. The stronger the emotional bonds within groups, the greater were the chances of survival and so ‘kindness genes were etched into the human genome.
So today when we are kind to each other we feel a connection and new relationships are forged, or existing ones strengthened.
5) Kindness is Contagious
When were kind we inspire others to be kind and studies show that it actually creates a ripple effect that spreads outwards to our friends friends friends – to 3-degrees of separation. Just as a pebble creates waves when it is dropped in a pond, so acts of kindness ripple outwards touching others lives and inspiring kindness everywhere the wave goes.
What is your opinion on this?
How did you feel when someone did something kind for you?
The Ripple Kindness Project
It's a beautiful project for schools to spread kindness all around! These people are heartwarming and kind and inspirational! Please check it out!!
Teaching children kindness.
For adults we can understand more about what kindness is and how to be Lind and even why it's important to be kind.
For children... It's not as easy..
Here's a few tips:
Kindness
Applying the Kindness Counts study in your home, classroom, or after-school program is easy. The goal is to help kids become more aware of doing acts of kindness and of their feelings of gratitude when they experience pleasant activities.
Follow these four steps to help enable children to be givers of kindness. Your efforts will be greatly rewarded!
1. Understand the Importance of Kindness
Learn about the benefits of giving for children and adults. The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation website is a terrific place to start. They have classroom and home activities for children of all ages.
2. Create a Kindness Project
Devise an activity where your family or classroom records ONE act of kindness or ONE pleasant activity per day. You might call it your Kindness Project or Happiness Diary. These activities could include helping with dishes, letting someone else go first, taking care of an animal, going out of way the for a friend, hugging someone to make them feel better, etc. Or they might include visits to places and experiences that make us feel good, like visiting a favorite park or a grandparents house.
3. Take Time to Share
On a regular weekly basis, take time to share as a family or classroom. Rather than sharing everything in your diary, share the highlights of your week. Share enough so that everyone learns from each others acts of kindness and begins to understand the types of experiences that bring gratitude to life. Sharing encourages self-reflection and helps bring meaning to our actions.
4. Practice, Practice, Practice
It may not be practical to keep up a routine where you are sharing from a diary on a regular basis. Reinforcement of the kindness habit comes with practice. But once children get into the habit, its easy to share from time to time.
Whether its planting a peace garden, making a get-well card for a sick friend, or simply inviting someone new to sit at your school lunch table, there are many free and easy ways kids can help create a more peaceful world.
Visit the Martin Richard Foundationor generationOn, two organizations calling upon youth ages 5-18 to promote peace and create positive change in their schools and communities by engaging in simple acts of kindness or service projects.
If you're a parent, did this help you in any way? How do you teach your children kindness?
If you're not a parent. Could you learn something from this?
History!!
World Kindness Day is an international observance on 13 November. It was introduced in 1998 by the World Kindness Movement a coalition of nations kindness NGOs.
Schools across the globe are now celebrating World Kindness Day and work with local NGOs such as the Be Kind People Project and Life Vest Inside In the USA
Events include THE BIG HUG, handing out Kindness Cards, Global Flashmob, which was coordinated by Orly Wahba from USA which was held in 15 countries and 33 cities with its images of the event making the big screens in New York City.
World Kindness Day is to highlight good deeds in the community focusing on the positive power and the common thread of kindness which binds us. Kindness is a fundamental part of the human condition which bridges the divides of race religion, politics, gender and zip codes. Kindness Cards are also an ongoing activity which can either be passed on to recognize an act of kindness and or ask that an act of kindness be done.
World Kindness Day is celebrated by Waves of Kindness Global Initiative at www.wavesofkindness.org - promoting Synchronized Global Waves of Unified Thoughts and Acts of Kindness for All Life
According to Gulf News, "it is a day that encourages individuals to overlook boundaries, race and religion"
All from the amazing and sometimes not so amazing... Wikipedia!
Xxx
