PERRY HALL, MD — Let’s be totally honest. We could all use a little more kindness at Perry Hall and beyond — and what better time to show it than around National Random Acts of Kindness Day.
Since the start of the pandemic, so many of us at Perry Hall and across the country have felt like the weight of the world is weighing on our shoulders. However, a simple, kind gesture can easily brighten someone’s day and give them the extra “oomph” they need to keep going.
Best of all, kindness is contagious. One good deed usually leads to another, according to a report from Dartmouth College.
“The positive effects of kindness are felt in the brains of everyone who witnessed the act, improving their mood and making them much more likely to ‘pay it forward,'” the report says.
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Kindness also has health benefits. According to the Mayo Clinic, it has been shown to increase self-esteem, empathy and compassion, and improve mood. It can also lower blood pressure and cortisol, a stress hormone, which has a direct impact on stress levels.
“People who give in a balanced way also tend to be healthier and live longer,” the hospital added.
On Thursday, February 17, marking National Day for Random Acts of Kindness, Patch recently asked his readers to reveal the nicest thing a neighbor has done for them. “Make kindness the norm” – #MakeKindnessTheNorm on social media – is this year’s theme.
Residents of Perry Hall did not disappoint with their stories of kindness. Here are some of the responses Patch received:
Pet Chicken gets some attention
[My neighbor] stitched up one of my chickens that was attacked – over 20 stitches, antibiotics, while we were on vacation. No, we didn’t expect him to do that. We offered to come earlier! Even the vet said it was above and beyond! -Kristen O’Brien
Help following an external accident
Two neighbors cleaned up my bloodied garage, porch, and kitchen when my husband had an accident while installing a new outdoor outlet. A third neighbor completed the take. —Meghan Grannas Maloney
Delicious Italian dinner
My lovely neighbor Donna cooked my family a delicious, authentic Italian dinner of spaghetti and meatballs. He had all the trimmings. It was a thank you for a kind act. Mom Mia it was delicious! —Helen Williams France
