Our bodies aren’t just programmed to be nice, they reward us for being kind, scientists say. University of California Riverside psychology professor, Sonja Lyubomirsky, found that genes which trigger inflammation are less in people who perform acts of kindness.  She reports there are more antiviral genes in those who regularly practice being kind.

When psychologists at the University of London questioned the importance of topics including ambition, creativity, tradition, security, kindness, and having an exciting life, guess what came up on top?

“Doing kindness makes you happier and being happier makes you do kind acts” said labor economist, Richard Layard.  Perhaps in addition to making us happy, scattering kindness can also make us healthier.

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A short story to honor all Fathers

Today is going to be the best day of my life!  Daddy didn’t need to wake me.  I’ve been looking at that worn-out curtain all night hoping to see daylight.  How can anyone sleep on their 6th birthday? Entering the kitchen, I hear Daddy’s beautiful voice singing Happy Birthday to me. I’m so lucky to have a father who loves me so much.  I know that not all kids are as lucky as I am.

Chocolate chip pancakes with mounds of whip cream are something I’ve always dreamt about, but I’m ok with my little bowl of Cheerios now while hoping for a treat later in the day. My friend, Valerie told me that some kids get cakes, balloons or even presents on their birthday. I didn’t believe her until I heard other kindergarteners at my new school bragging about what they …
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Interesting new insights about happiness are fun and free to explore in an online course from Yale —  https://www.coursera.org/learn/the-science-of-well-being. Includes a series of challenges designed to increase your own happiness. More than two million people are already enrolled in this course which is available whenever you are.

Upon completion, participants are encouraged to choose one area to focus on. I chose savoring.  It’s all about luxuriating in the moments, such as tasting a perfectly grilled burger, noticing fragrant lilacs, or remembering a walk on a sandy beach. After sharing my intent to savor with my family, I was pleasantly surprised when my brother mentioned how he was savoring his first golf game of the season. Then my daughter said she savored the buttery popcorn while watching an old movie. Simple reminders that we are happy.

There’s also a Facebook discussion group for those who want to see how others have …
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Twenty years from now, someone is going to ask, what do you remember about 2020?  Will it be the only time in your life when you had too much time?  Or will you recall the unlikely people who became your heroes?

The people we lost won’t be forgotten and the unique challenges will probably last a lifetime.  But we may not remember the things we say and do today which we think we will never forget. Might be nice in 2040 if we can find that file we saved to share with future generations.

Keep scattering kindness…

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