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Kindness
is in the little and big things
By Melissa Martin
“Three things in human life are important: The first is to be kind. The
second is to be kind. And the third is to be kind,” proclaimed Henry
James.
Random Acts of Kindness Day is February 17, 2019. Help your family,
friends, and co-workers get excited about Random Acts of Kindness Day.
There are scientifically proven benefits to being kind. It is
contagious, teachable, and makes you feel all fuzzy inside. Check out a
video featuring the science of kindness. Read a plethora of kindness
stories. See the Kindness in the Classroom curriculum (no cost).
Download Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn profile images.
www.randomactsofkindness.org.
Kindness in Ohio
Nicole Phillips lives in Athens, Ohio. She is a champion for using
kindness to overcome all of life’s difficulties, including her own
battle with breast cancer. She spreads the message of the healing power
of kindness through her weekly column, Kindness is Contagious. She is
the author of the self-published book, Kindness is Contagious: 100
Stories to Remind You God is Good and So are Most People. Phillips is
host of The Kindness Podcast. www.nicolejphillips.com.
For the 2018 Pack Shack, Ohio State teamed up with Ohio University and
The Columbus Foundation for a day of giving back—600 volunteers packed
218,000 meals for those in need in Athens County.
Kindness Ninjas (first-grade students in the Perry School District,
Willoughby, Ohio) don’t want to be noticed, according to a 2018 story
in The News-Herald. Instead “they simply perform kind acts because it’s
the right thing to do.”
The Health Benefits of Kindness
Research has shown that doing deeds of kindness triggers the release of
serotonin, a neurotransmitter that abets mood stability and increases
oxytocin, a hormone that makes you feel connected to others; boosts
immunity; and reduces the effects of stress.
www.randomactsofkindness.org.
My grandma Hila showed kindness with food. She cooked homemade meals
for family; gave garden vegetables to neighbors and strangers; and fed
stray dogs. My grandma Lyde gave quarters to the children at church to
put in the collection plate; gave away crocheted doilies, and
voluntarily painted the former Hillcrest Children’s Home. I am grateful
for kind
grandmothers.https://ohio.hometownlocator.com/maps/feature-map,ftc,2,fid,1076051,n,hillcrest
childrens home.cfm
Being Kind to Annoying People
Doing deeds of kindness and giving kind compliments comes more
effortlessly when we are in the company of family or friends. Being
kind to appreciative strangers warms the heart when they response with
gratitude. But what about showing kindness to annoying or self-absorbed
people? There are those who consider kindness to be weakness and may
try to take advantage. Showing kindness is not about being a doormat or
allowing others to manipulate you.
“It's not our job to play judge and jury, to determine who is worthy of
our kindness and who is not. We just need to be kind, unconditionally
and without ulterior motive, even - or rather, especially - when we'd
prefer not to be,” affirmed Josh Radnor.
Nonetheless, in today’s world, people can be suspicious when we offer
deeds of kindness, compliments, or praise. So we need to balance caring
with caution. But a lack of showing kind deeds due to fear of other
humans is an excuse.
Kindness Day in Your County
How will you show kindness to others on February 17? And the other 364
days of 2019?
Think about what deeds of kindness you can do in your area. Give blood.
Read to an elderly person at a nursing home. Clean out your closet and
donate gently used coats and gloves. Sign up as an organ donor on your
driver’s license. Give eye contact and smile when you talk to children.
Be kind to furry friends by donating pet food to the local food pantry.
Send notes of gratitude to city and county leaders, nonprofit
organizations, and school board members.
A few of my small kindness deeds this year includes: Sending an email
to Gov. Mike DeWine and thanking him for creating a new position—
Director of Children’s Initiatives for Ohio and for his campaign
promises of expanding early childhood education, increasing access to
mental health services, and reforming the foster care system. I will
daily turn off the water when brushing my teeth to show kindness to
planet Earth. Honking and waving at the employees who dance and hold
signs for businesses outside in the cold.
Kindness is in the little and the big things we do for others. And
let’s be especially kind to oldsters, children, and animals. Celebrate
kindness day!
Melissa Martin, Ph.D., is an author, columnist, and educator. She lives
in
Southern Ohio. www.melissamartinchildrensauthor.com.
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