random acts of kindness

TGIFYGDF…Thank Goodness It’s Feed Your Good Dog Friday!

February 19, 2010 by Rose Caplan

Kindness: How Good Deeds Can Be Good for You!
Source: Random Acts of Kindness Foundation
Entire article here

People who perform Random Acts of Kindness generally agree that doing a kind deed for someone else makes them “feel good.” But apart from sheer niceness, why should people be encouraged to commit Acts of Kindness? Are there any other concrete benefits that would motivate more people to become kinder?

The answer is an overwhelming “yes!” A number of scientific studies show that Acts of Kindness result in significant health benefits, both physical and mental, for those who perform them.

One of the most compelling studies of altruism was performed by Allan Luks and documented in his 1991 book, The Healing Power of Doing Good: The Health and Spiritual Benefits of Helping Others. Luks is the former executive director of the Institute for the Advancement of Health and executive director of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of New York City.

The volunteers in Luks’ study testified to feeling a rush of euphoria, followed by a longer period of calm, after performing a kind act. This feeling, which Luks calls “helper’s high,” involves physical sensations that strongly indicate a sharp reduction in stress and the release of the body’s natural painkillers, the endorphins. This initial rush is then followed by a longer-lasting period of improved emotional well-being.

This reduction in stress is vital to the health improvements reported by so many study volunteers. (In fact, more than 90 percent of Luks’ volunteers reported that regular volunteering produced feelings which are a powerful antidote to stress.) Why is stress reduction so important? Because stress can be the root cause of so many maladies, according to Hans Selye, a Hungarian physician who wrote a groundbreaking book called The Stress of Life in 1956.

Selye’s findings on stress are cited by Luks because many of his study volunteers had stress-related health problems that improved after performing kind acts.

And, remember…Feed Your Good Dog, so your good dog always wins!
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Wednesday Wide Smile

November 4, 2009 by Rose Caplan

THIS WEEK IS THE BUMP EXPERIMENT WEEK…BECOME A BUMPER AND BUMP IT UP!

The Bump Experiment was started by Billy Von Schriltz and is based on his own experience and the idea that “one act of kindness may touch and change someone’s life forever. When we least expect it and many times when we most need it out of the blue something wonderful happens!” Billy calls this experience “getting bumped.”

As a senior in high school, 30 years ago, Billy received an anonymous note in his principal’s office. It included money for his college education. The note said,” if you are ever in the position to do something for someone be it of your time or money do it without expecting anything in return!” The note was signed, “Your Guardian Angel.”

Billy carried the feeling of thankfulness and joy from that experience throughout the rest of his life.

In his late twenties he figured out the identity of his guardian angel. He was the postmaster of his hometown of Farmville, North Carolina. Billy was able to share with his guardian angel several stories of people he had come in contact with over the years whom he had been able to help in the same way he had been so they too could experience the same exhilaration he had felt so long ago having been the recipient and now the giver of such unconditional gestures.

This kind postmaster in his small hometown was named Bump. His nickname was short for Bumpass. Bump died in 2007 at 88 blessed years of age. And though no longer with us his ONE gesture of kindness has been multiplied too many times to keep track of and Billy is sure exponentially more times through others as we all continue to keep “BUMPING IT UP!”

And, remember…Feed Your Good Dog, so your good dog always wins!
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Wednesday Wide Smile

September 2, 2009 by Rose Caplan

The following two short stories from A Magazine for People and Possiilities, Victoria M Hay, Publisher, demonstrate how a random kind word or gesture can turn someone’s world right side up.

First up is an 18-year old teenager, Brittany Eckert, who needed to hear something positive about teenagers from an adult. And, then, a mom who needed to be reminded of the treasure she had in her 2-year old daughter. This one will definitely receive a prop from any mom who has been on a mandatory shopping trip with her toddler after a long day. Both stories remind us of the power of a kind word or gesture spoken “on the fly”. Enjoy!

From Brittany Eckert

Dear Readers:

This is really little, but it made my day. I am an 18 year old and lately I have been hearing more and more stories on the news about “how awful today’s teenagers are.” Its always sad to hear what people say about the category of humans that you fit into.

I went to pick up some supplies for school one afternoon and I simply held the door open for a frail-looking elderly woman. To my delight she was extremely grateful and said things like “thank you so much!”, and “you teenagers are so sweet these days.” She quickly put a big smile on my face and I told some friends at school. They thought it was really neat.

Isn’t it wonderful how sometimes, the littlest things can touch you in the perfect way? It’s just a thought, but to me an act of kindness is a gift to you, as well as the person you give it to.

From A Mother and Child

Dear Readers:

One day I was shopping with my child after work to pick up supplies needed for an employee celebration. I was exhausted and wanted to get in and out quickly. My child was tired and cranky and wanted out of the shopping cart. She was grabbing for every item we passed. I was losing my patience and temper when an elderly woman came over to us. She took my child’s hand, and said “what a lovely child.” My little girl was quiet immediately. The woman looked at me. She had an angelic smile and then again said, “they are so wonderful at this age.” At once I felt peaceful and in control of the situation. After she walked away, I found a snack that pleased me and my little one and we had a pleasant shopping trip. That one moment of someone reminding me what a treasure I had turned my whole attitude around and made my shopping trip so much easier.

And, remember…Feed Your Good Dog, so your good dog always wins! visit with us on follow us on