{"id":549,"date":"2017-02-15T16:53:22","date_gmt":"2017-02-15T16:53:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.firstlighthomecare.com\/home-healthcare-casco-maine\/?p=540"},"modified":"2026-02-02T15:03:04","modified_gmt":"2026-02-02T15:03:04","slug":"random-acts-kindness-good-world-good-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.firstlighthomecare.com\/home-healthcare-southern-maine\/2017\/02\/15\/random-acts-kindness-good-world-good-health\/","title":{"rendered":"RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS: GOOD FOR THE WORLD, AND GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH"},"content":{"rendered":"

Next Week, February 12 to 18, is Random Acts of Kindness Week. And it\u2019s the perfect opportunity to shower some kindness on the people in your life \u2014 or maybe even a total stranger.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve all heard stories about the person at the drive-thru who bought coffee for the stranger\u00a0who was next in line. Simple deed, big reward. Everyone could use a little boost from time to time to raise their spirits. Those who need a little extra support \u2013 an elderly neighbor, an adult with a disability, a loved one recuperating from surgery \u2013 could find even the smallest gesture extremely meaningful. So would their caregivers, who no doubt could use a little extra support themselves. We have some ideas that can inspire you to make a difference, no matter how big or small the act of kindness.<\/p>\n

Take Part in the Kindness Movement
\n<\/strong>Spreading kindness starts with one act \u2013 one smile, one coffee for a stranger, one favor for a loved one. Doesn\u2019t the world need more kindness? <\/span>The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation<\/a>\u00a0thinks so. It\u2019s a nonprofit organization, founded in 1995, aimed at creating a kindness movement. It provides free online resources to encourage acts of kindness in homes and communities across the globe. Each year, during the second full week of February, it promotes <\/span>Random Acts of Kindness Week<\/a> as an opportunity to unite through kindness. The idea is simply to encourage people to adopt kindness as part of their everyday lifestyle \u2013 and leave the world better than they found it.<\/span><\/p>\n

Be Happier and Healthier by Spreading Kindness
\n<\/strong>When we engage in acts of kindness, there\u2019s no doubt it makes us feel better. But did you know there\u2019s real science to back up why kindness boosts our overall well-being and helps us cope with the stresses of everyday life? Numerous studies<\/a>\u00a0show that both giving and receiving acts of kindness increases the production of several life-improving chemicals, including serotonin and oxytocin. Increased levels of serotonin can make you feel happy and relieve anxiety. A boost of oxytocin, also\u00a0known as\u00a0the \u201clove hormone,\u201d is produced when people bond socially, and it can lower blood pressure and improve heart health.\u00a0And if that wasn\u2019t enough, perpetually kind people also have 23 percent less cortisol (the \u201cstress hormone\u201d) and age two times slower than the average population. So spreading kindness is not only good for the person receiving the kind gesture, it\u2019s good for you, too!<\/p>\n

Share Acts of Kindness with Those in Need
\n<\/strong>Sometimes the smallest gesture can make the biggest impact for those whose health and well-being are more fragile \u2013 homebound seniors, a disabled veteran, someone who\u2019s recovering from an illness. These are people who would most appreciate a kind action to brighten their day. How can you make a difference? Here are some ideas to point you in the right direction:<\/p>\n