Happy Mondays

Leading life and happiness coach

IT IS hard not to be moved by recent events. Moved indeed not just by the horror and suffering but by the public’s kindness, generosity and speed to help.

The countless acts of courage and selflessness stir the heart and salve the soul. Ordinary people performing heroic acts without a moment’s thought for their own safety is the true spirit of our nation.

When it comes to tragedy we are united in outrage and grief as we gather to offer our empathy and help.

Despite our busy lives and our cosmopolitan communities in which we don’t know our neighbours, it is reassuring to know that underneath it all people do really care for each other.

To offer a hand, to give financial support and to unite when times are tough is what we do best and one hopes that the victims of such horrendous events gain comfort from the kindness of strangers and the national wave of care that rushed towards them.

Kindness is a great feeling and its own reward, and even more so when it is bestowed upon you. But it is interesting to note that kindness is a health booster for the giver.

Research has shown that people who volunteer have fewer aches and pains, better health and decreased depression. Benefits include improved self-esteem, longer life, sense of belonging, increased happiness and reduced stress.

A five-year study revealed that people who were 65 and over and who didn’t help friends, relatives or the community had a 30 per cent higher chance of dying after a stressful life event such a job loss than those who were generous.

Volunteering for a good cause can increase your sense of purpose and lower chances of heart attack and stroke.

Not everyone can be on the spot to lend a hand or be able to volunteer. But let’s not wait until the next crisis and start now for win-win wellbeing. Here are a few easy acts of kindness to pass on today, to light up someone’s life and to boost your own.

Send someone a handwritten letter or card.

Tell someone you care about how much they mean to you.

Post a note of appreciation to your local police or fire department.

Smile before you speak to family, shopkeepers and strangers.

Leave an inspirational note on the windscreen of a random car.

Do a chore for someone without being asked.

If you have good service spread the good news of it.

Pay someone a genuine compliment.

Thank you all for the kind act of reading this today. You have made my day.