Senior to Senior: Acts of Kindness

The pandemic turned many of us into hermits, but it is time for angry avoidance measures to stop. You are not alone if the experience left you feeling anxious, suspicious, and disconnected. It’s called self-preservation, but we need to address these “safety/avoidance measures” before they turn into a “mental health crisis.” In our hearts we know that we are better than this. It may seem that people have forgotten how to be nice to one another, but there is still a glimmer of hope. Helping others is what sets people apart from most other species. People feel better, and they behave better, when they feel connected. If your people skills are rusty, you may need to practice. Start today. Say or do something unexpected, even if it is totally out of character for you. In case you’ve forgotten, kindness is defined as doing something “nice,” without expecting anything in return. It’s not all that complicated. You don’t have to throw yourself in harm’s way to make a difference. Small gestures count. You have it in your power to make someone’s day. Studies show that the act of being kind is good for your health and wellbeing. The act itself stimulates the reward centers in the brain and produces a natural “high.” Studies show this “high” minimizes stress, combats depression, decreases the risk of cognitive impairment, decreases blood pressure and so on. You may think you are too busy to bother. I know, you mean to do some volunteer work, prepare healthy meals to share, or do something nice for your neighbor, but something always comes up. Would you consider it if you could break random acts of kindness into seconds instead of hours? How about making room for the car wanting to merge into your lane, complimenting a friend or even a stranger, holding a door open, or saying good morning, even if you are feeling grumpy. You can make a difference. Smile at a random stranger and see what happens. You have it in your power to make the world a friendlier place.