Kindness is Proven to be Contagious

Kindness is contagious. Observing and learning about people doing kind acts for others has the power to give us the desire to replicate those positive behaviors. 

Joseph Ferrari, professor of psychology at DePaul University, says, "If we saw more positive stories in the media, it might spur a trend of compassion." He goes on to say, "If we had people reading about random acts of kindness [more often], it would spread, and people would help more people."

So what are you waiting for, start spreading kindness with these five acts: 

1. Surprise your family.  Make a delicious treat for your family and present it uniquely. 
   
   
2. Be a book fairy. Leave a kids picture book on a bench at the park and write a note inside that says, "this book is a gift, hope you enjoy it. - signed Book Fairy." 
   
   
3. Feed the birds. Grab some bread or bird seeds, head to a park where you know the birds hang out and feed them. Observe how grateful the birds are for the food. 
   
   
4. Say hello. Say hello to EVERYONE you pass in the hallways at school and on the playground. 
   
   
5. Make a new friend. Invite someone new to play with on the playground. Or for older kids, ask someone new to sit with you at lunch. 
   
   

Until next time... be thoughtful, be present, be kind.