Want to Live Longer? Make Kindness a Daily Habit.
What can make you happier, help you live longer, has the potential to change the world, is simple to do, but costs next to nothing?
Here’s a riddle for you: What can make you happier, help you live longer, has the potential to change the world, is simple to do, but costs next to nothing to do?
Ok, give up?
The answer is …. Kindness.
Bah, Humbug – ‘Kindness’ is just a word, right?
It turns out, Kindness is pretty much a miracle cure for a lot of things. And you don’t need a prescription to get it. You just need to decide to ‘be kind’ and then ‘do kind’. Being nice is great. In fact, if you are nice, you are awesome. But the greatest power in Kindness is when you do something kind. Kindness is an action. Repeat kindness over and over and it will become a habit that will positively change your life.
DO YOU RECOGNIZE THIS CELEBRITY?
In 2011 Justin Timberlake received a YouTube video invitation from Marine Corporal Kelsey De Santis to attend the Instructor Battalion Marine Corps Ball in Richmond, Virginia. He accepted. This random act of kindness turned into an event that changed his life. “I had the opportunity to sit with Kelsey, get to know her and get a tiny glimpse into what her life as a Marine was like,” he wrote.
“It hit me all of a sudden that these were the type of people that look after us and our freedom,” Timberlake continued. “Humble, concerned for others before themselves. This was the type of person our Marine Corps was building. I was really blown away.”
Timberlake said that attending the ball changed his life. A video montage showing footage of the attacks on Pearl Harbor in 1941 and the World Trade Center in 2001 had a profound impact on him. “I felt so proud to be there,” says Timberlake. “I felt like I was getting a chance to be among my heroes. It’s funny too because a lot of them are much younger than me.”
BROADWAY VIOLINIST GIVES KINDNESS TO FURRY FRIENDS
Broadway violinist, Martin Agee has played his violin for more than 40 Broadway cast albums, including Fiddler on the Roof, The Color Purple, Legally Blonde, and West Side Story. In his spare time he is a volunteer at the local animal shelter. He isn’t just any volunteer, though. He isn’t a dog walker or dog petter. Nope. He brings his violin to the shelter and he plays classical music.
Martin says,
“oftentimes, within 30 seconds four or five dogs will be all be curled up in their beds or sitting in front of their doors quietly listening and watching me play.”
RANDOM ACT OF KINDNESS DAY
Every day you can read about acts of kindness that are happening all over the world. In the United States February 17th celebrates Random Acts of Kindness Day. New Zealand, which started their Random Acts of Kindness Day in 2004, celebrates on September 1st. Perhaps you have done a random act of kindness or have been the recipient of a random act of kindness. (Extra high fives for anyone who posts in the comments with the real origin of Random Acts of Kindness; hint 1982).
KINDNESS IS FREE
When you do an act of kindness you are making a positive difference in someone else’s life. Your gift of kindness can lift someone’s spirit, bring them joy, positively alter their mood, and maybe even change their life. And an act of kindness doesn’t have to cost anything at all.
You may read about people buying meals or coffee for someone in line behind them. That’s fantastic. Maybe you just read about Shaquille O’Neal, who paid for an engagement ring for a stranger. But there are almost an infinite number of things you can do to make a difference that are free. Some examples include, taking the time to listen to a friend or maybe a grandparent, picking up the phone and calling a family member you haven’t talked to in a long time, offering to help put groceries in the car for someone who is elderly or maybe has their hands full with small children, writing a note to a co-worker who has been having a rough time and letting them know they are special, offering to help make a meal….the list can go on and on. (For a 365 day list of kindness ideas, check out Nicole J. Phillips book: The Negativity Remedy: Unlocking More Joy, Less Stress, and Better Relationships Through Kindness)
KINDNESS CAN HELP YOU LIVE LONGER
What’s really cool about doing an act of kindness is that you are benefiting yourself too, as well as others around you who see the act of kindness. It’s proven by science.
Acts of kindness produce oxytocin, which is often called the ‘love hormone’. It has been proven to help lower blood pressure and improve cardio health. Oxytocin also helps you feel more optimistic and better about yourself. And what I really love is that, when you do an act of kindness, your body produces oxytocin, the receiver’s body produces oxytocin, and anyone around you who witnesses the act of kindness also produces oxytocin. Your simple act of kindness could be providing health benefits to many people!
Your act of kindness can also act like a Kindness Chain. People who see kindness feel better about themselves and life and they are more likely to be kind to other people as a result. (Psychology Today)
But wait, there’s more! Your brain has pathways that transmit signals throughout your body. When you do an act of kindness, your brain releases serotonin which increases your body’s satisfaction and sense of well-being.
According to a study on happiness from the University of British Columbia, performing acts of kindness helped relieve anxiety. If you have a tendency to feel a little anxious, go ahead and do something kind for someone. When you feel anxious you also can feel stressed. Instead of focusing on your own stress, do something kind for someone else. It will take your mind off your problems and make you feel good at the same time. So go ahead. Give someone a smile. Call up a friend. Give someone a compliment. Consider yourself a Kindness Doctor!
SPECIAL BENEFITS FOR THOSE OVER 55
Are you over 55? Then you probably know that inflammation is a cause of many health issues, including diabetes, cancer, obesity, and migraines. Oxytocin reduces inflammation, so when you perform an act of kindness you are helping keep inflammation at bay. Studies have shown that those over 55 who volunteer are 44% less likely to die early.
DO AN ACT OF KINDNESS TODAY (and tomorrow and the next day…)
So, why stop at just a random act of kindness on February 17th each year, or maybe just every once in a while? Consider turning your random acts of kindness into Daily Acts of Kindness. They don’t have to be something on a grand scale. In fact, when you make acts of kindness a daily habit, you can improve your health and well being and make a difference every day, just by doing something small.
Start each day with the thought, “I am going to do an act of kindness today.” You could give a sincere compliment to someone you know. You could strike up a conversation with someone waiting in line with you. You could write a short note to tell someone how much you appreciate them. You could look someone in the eyes and give them a big ‘thank you, I really appreciate you’, when they help you out at a store. You could start your day by telling your spouse, “I just wanted to tell you how much I appreciate you.” You could call a friend just to say ‘hello’ and let them know you are thinking about them. And there’s always room to be kind to yourself – that’s definitely allowed!
You may even want to do a little ‘Kindness Planning’.
The important thing is to begin to develop kindness as a habit that you do, even in some small way, every day. Your heart will thank you!
With Kindness 💜
~ Heather Johnston Brebaugh
Practical Kindness Challenge For This Week
You’re up for this challenge. Let’s do this!
Think of someone you know, but maybe you’ve been neglecting him/her a bit.
Either tell them in person or call them on the phone if they aren’t near and let them know how much you appreciate them.
Practical Kindness Challenge From Last Week
If you tried the ‘3 pennies in the pocket’ challenge last week, I’d love to hear how it went. Feel free to add comments by clicking below:
A Sneak Peek at Next Week’s Post…
The Power of Kindness Begins With One Small Step
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"When you do an act of kindness you are making a positive difference in someone else’s life."
This is a great, practical, definition of kindness,
which is the core message in the film Klaus (2019), and has this great line:
A true selfless act always sparks another.
Life Lesson:
“Kindness, I’ve discovered, is everything in life."
— Isaac Bashevis Singer
https://moviewise.wordpress.com/2020/05/25/klaus/
I really enjoyed reading your Practical Kindness post, Heather. You're so correct about the power of kindness in our lives. My mother always told me to help the elderly and disabled. My father had me volunteer at a rehabilitation center in San Mateo, California. I was only 19 years old, and that experience taught me that there are people in society that need help to exist. The director of the center kept telling me that "kindness" was the key to improving her patients. So from than on, I knew that one of my lifetime roles was to be the kindest person possible. Some people might think it makes me weak. However, Heather, I see it as a positive part of my life. Thank you for your great first issue!