National Random Acts of Kindness Day
February 17th is National Random Acts of Kindness Day!
We celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Week from February 14 to February 20 annually.
It’s a celebration of all the ways we can become a positive influence in each other’s lives.
Your kindness might make a world of difference to somebody, it doesn’t have to be a huge financial donation or a full days’ worth of your time; small random acts of kindness have been proven to:
1. Reduce Stress. People who are naturally kind have 23% less cortisol, which is the stress hormone.
2. Increase Stamina. In a research study, 50% of the participants reported that they felt stronger and more energetic after helping people.
3. Reduce your blood pressure. Dr. David Hamilton claims that practicing acts of kindness helps release a hormone known as oxytocin, which protects the heart by reducing blood pressure.
4. Stabilize your mood. It stimulates the production of serotonin, which is basically a mood stabilizer.
Here are just a few of our favorite ways to practice Acts of Kindness
(everyday not just February 17th):
• Everybody’s favorite: buy coffee for the person behind you in line
• Compliment the next 5 people you run into- it costs nothing, takes no time and could make someone’s day
• Donate old towels, blankets and pet food to your local Animal Shelter
• Surprise someone with fresh baked goods
• Leave positive recommendations online for those whose service helped you (we LOVE this one)
• Smile at others- It’s Contagious!
• Practice Self Kindness – give yourself a break
• Give your home an act of Kindness: go room by room and get together donations of things you no longer use or need but could make someone else’s life easier
• Donate groceries to your local food bank
• Gift cards for the Homeless
• Pay for another child’s hot lunch
So many times, we forget the impact that a simple kind word or gesture can have. Include your whole family in the act of kindness, even the youngest child can benefit from a good example. A smile, a comforting hug, lending an ear all can actually have the power to make someone’s day brighter.
Kindness goes a long way. You will be amazed by how much effect a simple act of kindness has in someone's life.
"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." ~ Maya Angelou