Happy World Kindness Day!

Today marks World Kindness Day and what a terrific opportunity to recognize the nice things that people do for one another.

How are you celebrating? Could it be by making a donation to a favourite charity? Bringing-in an elderly neighbour’s garbage bins or by just telling someone how much you appreciate having them in your life.

Today I registered to become a RAKtivist. It’s an online community developed by the website Random Acts of Kindness. Each month a special kindness challenge is sent out to members that benefits a worthy cause.

Doing the monthly challenges will be fun and seeing how others tackle them globally will be so interesting. Let me know if you’re joining too.

I’ve been so lucky to have so many people be kind to my family. Let me share a recent example.

Yesterday I got a special surprise in my mailbox.

My dear friend Carie who lives in London, England sent me a package. In it was a little note with a gorgeous colourful glass trinket dish wrapped in bubble-wrap.

Carie’s message was to let me know that she’s thinking of us while our family is going through a difficult time in our lives.

She wrote, “I got you this glass tray to remind you to always look for and find the colour and light — even in the darkest days.”

Even as I type this I’m holding back tears. Carie, you have ALWAYS had a way with words. Thank you my friend for that long-distance hug.

Practicing kindness has many benefits too. According to Psychology Today, “Science has now shown that devoting resources to others, rather than having more and more for yourself, bring about lasting well-being.”

Hooray! It’s good for our health to be kind.

Start by being aware of someone’s needs and acting on it. For example, if you are approaching a homeless person today, think about buying them a sandwich and hot drink for lunch.

Or do what I did today for my dog, Ella. The morning temperature in Toronto was -13 degrees Celsius. Rather than taking her on a brutally cold dog walk, I took her to a popular indoor facility called Doggie Playland, so she could frolic with her friends without freezing her paws.

Maybe this last idea was being kind to me too. Wink wink.

So today enjoy being kind to someone and the good feels that come along with it.