Imagine you are a bus driver. A homeless person steps onto your bus barefoot. What would you do?
Just a few days ago, Jayne Arendt-Verhelst, a Minneapolis bus driver, faced this exact situation. When she saw a homeless woman enter her bus without shoes, Jayne didn’t just empathize with her plight or feel compassion.
She went a step further and broke a bus driver’s rule to give her own shoes to the woman, demonstrating a profound act of kindness.
This story reminds us that true kindness involves taking ACTION to help those in need, not just feeling and wanting to do something about their struggles.
💓 In a world where empathy is often celebrated, we need to remember that we often forget it’s just the starting point. It is the ability to understand what other people might be going through as if we’re in their shoes. We can make them feel seen and heard but just 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 alone rarely change anything.
💔 COMPASSION is the 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙞𝙧𝙚 to alleviate other people’s pain. We 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 to help other people. Yet compassion can be frustrating if we do nothing about it.
💕KINDNESS is the highest level of human interactions. It is 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙣 𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 to alleviate that pain. Not just trying but delivering.
By making acts of kindness, we transform empathy and compassion into a force for good, making the world a kinder, more compassionate place.
𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 ActsofKindness(𝗔𝗼𝗞):
✅ 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 & 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗳-𝗘𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗺: AoK gives us a sense of purpose, boosting happiness by triggering dopamine, the brain’s “feel-good” chemical. It also enhances self-worth, allowing us to see our positive impact on others.
✅ 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 & 𝗥𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀: AoK release oxytocin, the “love hormone,” which calms the amygdala, lowering stress and anxiety. This helps reduce symptoms of depression and promotes overall mental well-being.
✅ 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗣𝗵𝘆𝘀𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 & 𝗥𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗣𝗮𝗶𝗻: AoK promote cardiovascular health by lowering blood pressure. It also triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers, easing physical discomfort.
✅ 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲: AoK builds emotional strength and resilience, fostering a positive mindset even during challenging times.
✅ 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗥𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀: AoK doesn’t just affect the giver and receiver; bystanders who witness it feel inspired to act kindly themselves, creating a ripple effect throughout communities and workplaces.
✅ 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀: Prosocial behaviors like kindness deepen connections and create a stronger sense of community.
I’m inspired by the kindness of the bus driver, Jayen. What about you?
