Last week I was the grateful recipientof a random act of kindness.I had bought a desk that would not fit inside my car.Seeing me and my sister in the parking lotstruggling to get it in,a 60ish-year-old woman driving a station wagonwhom we had never met before, approached us.She offered to drive the desk to my housewhich was 30 minutes from where we wereand where she lived.
Her generosity blew me away!We were thrilled, and so was she.
Studies show that practicing generosityis not only good for the recipient,it is also valuable for the giver.It has both physical and mental health benefits.
In addition to reducing stress, supporting our physical well-being,giving us a sense of purpose and fighting depression,generosity is shown to increase one’s lifespan.
Social connections and improved relationshipsare also byproducts of being generous.Researchers show that giving to othersnot only makes them feel closer to us,we also feel closer to them.We foster a spirit of community anda feeling of interconnectedness.
As if these results weren’t enough,we also silence our inner negative self-talk.It is hard to be criticalwhen we are being generous.
In addition to practicing random acts of kindness,there are four ways to fully practice generosity.
- Give something of yourself to the other personEx: time, patience, support
- Accept appreciationEx: Say thank you when you receive a complimentrather than brushing it off
- Accept others’ generosityEx: Let others give to you and be open to receiving
- Show appreciationEx: Express gratitude when generosity is shown to you
I am writing this from my new desk, which I love!Thank you, Jean!
Have you either been the recipient or giver of a random act of kindness?I’d love to hear your experiences. Please email them to me.