Kindness...

What is kindness? According to Google kindness is:

The quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate.

I would consider myself a "kind" individual, although I have my moments just like all of us. There is never a point where we cannot improve on the virtue of kindness. Kindness is a practice, in which case we should always attempt to look for areas of improvement. I decided almost a year and a half ago to not eat meat anymore, and that to me was out of my heart for the sentient creatures, as well as for my health. By sparing an animals life, I feel I am practising the act of kindness because, in reality, the way that meat gets to your plate on the table is heinous. I am not here to pass judgement, or turn anyone vegan I'm just sharing part of my story. Although, as I began to learn more, even dairy products we buy are not even remotely made with kindness to the creatures providing it. I attempted to go vegan over the past summer, (and I continue to try...), but living in a foreign country and holidays made it difficult for me and I failed. I am not giving up though, so not a complete failure. In that time I continued to be a good vegetarian, but I have been a terrible vegan the past couple of months because of cheese and desserts. Time for a change. Time to get back to improving and refining my acts of kindness not only to myself but to others, including animals.

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There are many benefits of kindness...

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Rewards will manifest, whether they come as instant gratification or something shortly down the road, or as far as at the end of your entire life. According to Inc., they give 5 scientific reasons why you should act out of kindness:

Kindness fuels energy and esteem
Kindness produces serotonin which generates that feeling of calmness and even helps heal wounds. (Just like a Lionel Richie song!)

In one Berkeley study, almost 50 percent of participants reported feeling stronger and having more energy after helping others, with reports of greater feelings of calmness and enhanced self-esteem also predominant.

Kindness makes you happier
A Harvard Study showed that those who were altruistic and gave away money were, overall, the happiest.

And I thought that title was reserved for New England Patriots fans.

Kindness is good for your heart
The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation reports:

Witnessing acts of kindness produces oxytocin, occasionally referred to as the 'love hormone' which aids in lowering blood pressure and improving our overall heart-health.

Don't they say love hurts? Turns out the opposite is true!

Kindness helps you live longer
Christine Carter, author of Raising Happiness; In Pursuit of Joyful Kids and Happier Parents, writes:

People 55 and older who volunteer for two or more organizations have an impressive 44 percent lower likelihood of dying early, and that's after sifting out every other contributing factor, including physical health, exercise, gender, habits like smoking, marital status and many more. This is a stronger effect than exercising four times a week or going to church.

Finally, a guilt-free way to skip the gym.

Kindness decreases lots of bad stuff
Studies have shown that developing a habit of kindness reduces pain, stress, anxiety, depression, and blood pressure.

Chemistry plays a role once again. (No, not the Ryan Gosling - Emma Stone kind of chemistry).

People who practice kindness as a habit have 23 percent less cortisol (the stress hormone) and more of a chemical called nitric oxide, which dilates blood vessels (thus lowering blood pressure).

Here is The Science of Kindness summed up in ~2 minutes:

Here is Why Kindness is Good for You and the positive side effects:

Here is a great lesson on The Power of Kindness:

Have you ever heard things like, if you're sad find and cheer-up someone who is sad and you will find happiness? Or if you are hurting, reach out and make someone else who is hurting feel better? Or if you're lonely, go be with someone else who is lonely and you both will not be lonely? If you want to experience kindness, spread it to others and it shall return to you. The principle is the same throughout these ideas.

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Kindness is contagious, so how will you spread kindness? It could be as simple as holding a door for someone, reaching out to someone who is hurting, etc. In a world full of hate and division, simple acts of kindness can help humanity connect and unite through a higher vibration of love. I know I will aim to be kinder in many areas of my life, not just by giving up dairy but in many other areas. So, what will you do? Start right NOW, because I'm sharing it with you!