Kindness is the Antidote

It has been a tough year and with everything going on we could all use some joy in our lives. Covid-19 has brought disruption and innovation to the way we gather, celebrate, and spend time with friends and family. With Christmas right around the corner the new Covid-19 restrictions have reintroduced stay home orders that limit gatherings to those in the same bubble.

But with the many innovations at the tip of our fingers many are finding ways to stay connected online with friends and family. The Christmas spirit has not been lost and for many the availability of holiday apps is providing opportunities to spread the holiday spirit of giving back. We can shift our collective experience and feelings by helping others and what better way to spread joy than through acts of kindness?

Kindness is the best medicine for the holiday blues. That warm feeling we get when we do something nice for others is not just a phenomenon but a chemical response from our brain that releases hormones that produce feelings of pleasure, protect our physical health and mental wellness.

Research shows that kindness not only lifts our spirit but goes along way in living a longer and happier life. The Institute for Research on Unlimited Love conducted over 50 scientific studies headed by PhD Stephen G. Post that found links between kindness and health that indicate adults live longer and happier lives complete acts of kindness and express positive emotions towards others.

Dr. David R. Hamilton explains

“acts of kindness are often accompanied by emotional warmth. Emotional warmth produces the hormone oxytocin in the brain and throughout the body. Of recent interest is its significant role in the cardiovascular system.” - KindCanada.org

The release of nitric oxide into the blood causes the blood vessels to expand resulting in reduced blood pressure. When we help others through acts of kindness, we produce oxytocin which protects our hearts. The best cure for improving mental health and wellness is kindness.

Kindness is also the best antidote for feelings of depression and anxiety. When we show compassion for others it helps to alleviate our mood by producing serotonin in the body which helps to regulate mood and reduce anxiety.

In the spirit of giving, the Christmas Tree of Kindness app is a great way to give back to yourself and others by inviting them to share in the joy of helping others, gestures of kindness and compassion.

What is the Christmas Tree of Kindness App?

 

The Christmas Tree of Kindness App was created by Beth Duffy to promote kindness and the idea of giving back during the holiday season as gift, which is inspired by her church upbringing. This is a social sharing app that promotes connecting with loved ones by working together to decorate a Christmas tree with ornaments earned through acts of kindness. The creator of the Christmas tree is given a passcode to invite guests to complete acts of kindness to earn ornaments to decorate the tree.

 

What Inspired the creation of the Christmas Tree of Kindness App?

 

As a young mother, Beth Duffy, came up with the idea for the Christmas Tree of Kindness App as a way of teaching her children the importance of giving back.

As she explains,

"when our children were little we began this special game each Christmas Season with  construction paper tree and balls. Each year someone would encourage us to share this idea with others. About sixteen years went by and we decided this is the year!"

Christmas held a lot of special place within her family for the Birth of baby Jesus. Giving back was a way of honouring many of those values surrounding the Christian teachings of kindness, giving and compassion for others.

The Christmas Tree of Kindness App is a great way to connect with multiple people and share in the communal experience of kindness towards others. The app comes in a free download version and an upgraded Pro version for $1.99 that includes the app, the story “The Christmas Tree that Changed the World” which gives a background story to the main characters, Spruce and Holly. Along with the Craft which allows guests to print trees and ornaments to keep track of their acts of kindness with a paper-version of the Christmas Tree. 

Get your kids, friends, or family together and make it a game! The app is perfect for completing acts of kindness in the comfort of your home. There are 39 ornaments that can be earned through acts of kindness. See how many you can get done before Christmas and experience the spirit of joy!

10 Ways to Show Kindness to Yourself and Others this Holiday Season

1. Call loved ones: Reconnect with friends and family. Let them know you are thinking of them by calling to see how they are doing and catch up on life since the pandemic.
2. Host a movie night: What better way to spend quality time with family living under the same roof than to host a movie night? It is easy to fall into a pattern of sitting in our rooms and not interacting with others in the same household. Call everyone out of their rooms to spend a relaxed and fun night watching your favourite movies.
3. Invite a neighbour or friend for a walk: Taking a walk while socially distancing is a great way to get some fresh air, exercise, as a way to encourage each other to be and clear your mind from work and stress.
4. Invite a friend to a virtual yoga: Working out with a friend encourages them to keep up their physical activity even when we are stuck indoors and is a great excuse to take time out of your day to hangout.
5. Cook a healthy meal: If you are staying with family a great way to show your appreciation is by surprising them with a healthy home-cooked meal. The pandemic has been especially tough for parents having to juggle work, chores, parenting and teaching schoolwork to their children. If safety permits, consider doing the same for a neighbour to brighten their day.
6. Help out with chores: Surprise someone by taking a chore off their load without being asked!
7. Donate: Support your community through the pandemic by donating to local charities that provide medical supplies to hospitals, food, clothing, and social service support to the families in the local community.  
8. Plan a virtual event: Invite others to join you in meditation, yoga, or exercise as a way to encourage each other to maintain their physical health and mental wellness. Also, fun activities such as game night, movie nights, or bringing a snack to chat online are greats way to catchup with others.
9. Pay it forward: Who wouldn’t love to be surprised with a free morning coffee? When in line at the drive-thru consider paying for another customer's order. This will encourage them to do the same for others in the future.
10. Self-care: Remember to be kind to others you must learn to be kind to yourself first! Remember to get fresh air, go for a walk when stressed out, drink lots of water, and get enough sleep.

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