November 13th is World Kindness Day, a global 24-hour celebration dedicated to paying-it-forward and focusing on the good each of us can do through simple acts of kindness. Taking time to say hello to a neighbour, giving someone a compliment, volunteering at a local charity, or buying lunch for a friend – it all counts. Besides just being a nice thing to do‚ research has shown that doing good deeds can make people feel better. Simple acts of kindness have been directly linked to good health and the release of oxytocin‚ a hormone that creates feelings of emotional warmth and protects your heart by lowering your blood pressure. United Way’s vision is a healthy, caring and inclusive community started over 80 years ago with a few kind acts by people that wanted to see a better Lower Mainland. Those kind acts continue each and every day because of the contributions of thousands of donors and supporters that make a huge difference in your community, one small act of kindness at a time.
Take a moment on November 13th and contemplate kindness and selfless acts that have had a lasting impact on you. It really doesn’t take much to show someone somewhere an act of kindness – so what will you do on 13 November?