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Imagine if medical science discovered a simple, natural way to reduce stress, slow aging and increase one's chances of living a longer life.
Imagine, further, that research also confirmed it made people feel happier, became second nature with practice and — amazingly — was contagious, encouraging bystanders to adopt similar behaviour.
Well, there's no need to imagine. All the above have already long been linked to a well-known human trait — kindness.
Despite its proven benefits, however, kindness too often seems in short supply, especially in today's pandemic-ravaged world.
That's why it's great to see people like sisters Lacey Conrad, Leah Profitt and Nadea Melenchuk remind us all — with their recent kindness campaign, honouring the memory of their slain mother — of the importance of being kind to one another.
In October, 2006, the body of Leslie Ann Conrad, then 45, was found in woods not far from her home in Lower Wolfville, N.S. Her killer has never been found.
This year, to mark what would have been their mom's 60th birthday on Dec. 8, Conrad's daughters wanted to shed light on her case in a way their mother would have appreciated.
So they've been asking people to publicly share their acts of kindness and joy on social media.
“Little things can mean so much to people when they're going through a hard time,” Melenchuk told SaltWire Network's ian Fairclough.
To the sisters' delight, the campaign, using the hashtag #FORLES, seems to have taken off. What started with friends and some businesses has grown, with posts now appearing far beyond their original circle of contacts.
We hope their initiative also leads to some progress on their mother's unsolved homicide case.
Their efforts are a timely reminder that we all have the power, if we choose to wield it, to positively affect lives — both of those around us as well as our own.
EMPATHY AND COMPASSION
Kindness is defined as the quality of being friendly, generous and considerate, but it's more than that.
It's also about empathy and compassion, being aware that those you meet may be facing greater challenges than you might imagine, even if those struggles aren't always visible.
It can be as little as a word of encouragement or an unsolicited helping hand. It can be volunteering for, or donating to, a worthy cause.
“It doesn't need to be monetary by any means,” Profitt told SaltWire. “It could be shovelling your neighbour's driveway, or baking some cookies for someone.”
And it's worth remembering that none of us should withhold kindness from the person often at the bottom of many people's lists, and who just might need it most — ourselves.
This year has been a tough one. The coronavirus pandemic, which has caused so many illnesses and deaths, has spawned financial and psychological hardships for many. The country's worst-ever mass shooting occurred in Nova Scotia last spring. The news, especially from beyond our borders, seemingly constantly reminds us of humanity's inhumanity.
But the science is clear. Kindness is an ever-available antidote.
Let's all try to share it whenever we can.