Kindness starts with one; who’s your one?
Ah, Valentine’s Day, a day of love and kind gestures. In a world that seems filled with negativity, carving out a day for love is more important than ever. But what if there was a way to keep that feeling going a little longer, a way to spread more love and kindness? That’s what Random Acts of Kindness Week (February 11-17, 2018) is all about.
Inspired by the globally-recognized World Kindness Day (November 13), the Random Acts of Kindness (RAK) Foundation formed in 1995 as a small team with a mission to spread kindness world-wide through small acts that make a difference.
We all know being kind is good, but science says it’s also good for you. Studies show performing one RAK per day can reduce stress, anxiety and, depression. Your body is flooded with serotonin and endorphins and oxytocin, you feel more energized, less pain and it can increase your lifespan.
Scientifically kindness is contagious with the positive effects experienced in the brain of everyone who witnessed the act, meaning one good deed in a crowded area can create a domino effect and improve the day of dozens of people!
It doesn’t take much makes a huge difference, kindness starts with one person and one act.
Celebrate RAKWEEK 2018 by sharing the photo and story of that one person who inspires you to be a better human being at www.randomactsofkindness.org/rakweek. Go one step further by paying tribute to this person by doing an act of kindness every day in their honour. For the rest of the week – or maybe even all year long – spread kindness wherever you go. For inspiration, visit www.randomactsofkindness.org.
What did you say? Hearing loss as we age
According to the Canadian Hearing Society, nearly one in four adult Canadians say they experience some hearing loss. “Hearing loss frequently goes unnoticed and because it happens gradually, many people are in denial. They often stop communicating and withdraw from family, friends and social situations because they can’t understand what is being said” (Canadian Hearing Society, online).
Does this sound like you? Are you having more trouble hearing others when they speak? Do you ever skip family events or other activities because you find it hard to understand others when they speak? If hearing loss is present in your daily life, you may feel anxious or choose to avoid certain social situations and that is normal. We hope you will join Townshippers’ Association at the Eaton Valley Community Learning Centre (CLC) in Bury on Wednesday, February 21 to learn more about the realities of hearing loss.
The presenter for this session will be Lorna Dowson, M.SC. Clinical Audiologist at St. Mary’s Hospital in Montreal. Ms. Dowson will talk about what happens when we start to lose our hearing, examine hearing loss as we age, and look at what we can do to increase our awareness and better help ourselves, our family members, and our community to understand hearing loss.
This Community Health Education Program (CHEP) video conference will take place from 9:30 am to 12 pm. The Eaton Valley CLC is in Pope Memorial School (523 Stokes). Please use the door on the far end of the building, the CLC room will be on your left when entering. Coffee, tea, and snacks will be offered.
For more information about this session, contact Michelle at Townshippers’: 819-566-5717, ml@townshippers.org. This CHSSN initiative is funded by Health Canada through the Roadmap for Canada’s Official Languages 2013-2018: Education, Immigration, Communities.
This weekly column in The Record keeps you in touch with Townshippers’ Association’s activities and news. For other ways to keep in touch with us, visit our website www.townshippers.org, follow us on Facebook.com/townshippers, Twitter @Townshippers or get in touch with our offices in Sherbrooke at 100 – 257 Queen, 819-566-5717, toll-free: 1-866566-5717, or Lac-brome at 3-584 Knowlton Rd, 450-242-4421, toll-free: 1-877-242-4421.