Today, Saturday, November 13, is World Kindness Day.
More than a year after the pandemic, it might seem that there is no time to be kind. However, the world needs your kindness more than ever. People are still dying of Covid-19 and others are starving and living in war-torn countries. And young people are taking to the streets claiming that adults are not paying enough attention to the climate crisis.
The time is over, and we need to look no further than the frontline workers risking their lives every day to care for the sick, feed the hungry, educate our children and fight for our collective mental health. That is mercy.
“Research has found that altruistic behavior activates the same areas in the brain that are brought to life by rewards or pleasurable experiences.
“Remarkably, helping others also causes the brain to release hormones and protein-like molecules, known as neuropeptides, that lower stress and anxiety levels. Here’s the bottom line: Doing good is good for you. Is.”
Here are 25 ways to be kind to yourself, your family and community, and the planet today or any other day.
be kind to yourself
Make Kindness a Family Value
9. Call a relative. So many grandparents are missing their children and grandchildren, so why not call a relative? And if you miss someone, you can also call them.
10. Heirloom recipe hunting. Call the head cook in your family and ask her to walk you through a longtime family recipe. Make it again. If they claim you have to take a certain ingredient from the old country, ask for another recipe.
11. Talk to your kids about race. Educating your children beyond their own identities will help them navigate the wider world in a thoughtful way. Ibram X. Begin with Kendy’s board book, “Antirasist Baby.” Middle school kids might love the young adult version of “Born a Crime,” Comedy Central host Trevor Noah’s memoir of growing up in apartheid South Africa. Adult Spelman College’s former president Beverly Daniels Tatum’s classic, “Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?”
kindness in the community
13. Express your gratitude. Handwritten letters have become a lost art of sorts, but there’s nothing quite like receiving a handwritten note that shows care, intention, and reasons why someone loves and appreciates you. Think about the coworkers, friends, and family members you love and why, then tell them. The simple things often matter the most.
14. Grocery store for anyone who needs it. You may have neighbors who are locked in the house or can use a helping hand; Food banks are seeing more people in need.
15. Hand out snack bags. Gather shelf-stable snacks, water bottles, socks and wipes in bags to give to those who need them (be sure to do so safely from 6 feet away).
16. Support a local restaurant. This week order takeout food from a local joint that needs your business.
17. Vote and register people to vote. Yes, it is true that next year is not presidential election year. But the medium term matters, whatever your political party.
mercy for the earth
19. Buy food from farmers, Supports local businesses by shopping at their local farmers markets or growing good food directly from farmers.
20. Volunteer in Cleaning up the Garbage: Organize or participate in a community cleanup of the local beach or neighborhood park.
22. Turn off your lights. Just when you don’t need them. Many of us are working from home, and that’s a hefty electricity bill. Turning them off saves money and resources.
three more things
23. Social distancing. If you live apart it’s okay to watch people occasionally (at least 6 feet). Lawn chairs spread around the firepit look good right now.
24. Dress for the season and play outside. Whether you live where we’re headed (so bundle up) or summer (short weather), experts say getting outside is good for our physical, mental and emotional health.
This story has been updated from an excerpt published in November 2020.
CNN’s Faye Chiu, Kristen Rogers, Katie Hunt, Sandy LaMotte, David Allen and Ryan Pryor contributed to this story.
,