Ray’s Daily
December 13, 2019
KINDNESS MEANS BUILDING BRIDGES INSTEAD OF WALLS.”
RAKtivist
As we approach the upcoming holidays, we will hear that now is the time to be jolly and to offer goodwill to men. I think it is a great time to sharpen our caring skills by focusing our being kind to others. I wonder sometimes if we lose sight of the value of kindness both for the receiver of an act of caring but also to those offering the helping hand.
Some of us seem to limit our acts of kindness to only those close to us, thus missing the opportunity to reap the rewards that come from an unselfish action benefiting others. So my friends let’s all make this the season to be kind to others.
Here is an abridges article that outlines the health benefits that come from acts of kindness.
The Healing Power of Kindness
by Lloyd Dean & James Doty, M.D.
We’ve all heard the old adage that an apple a day keeps the doctor away, but what about a smile? An extensive scientific literature reveals a growing body of scientific evidence that indicates kindness holds the power to heal. We now know that this often overlooked, virtually cost-free remedy has a statistically significant impact on our physical health.
Those of us who work in the health care profession and study medicine have long believed in the value of a kind, compassionate bedside manner. But now, this belief isn’t just a nice notion – it’s sound science. The Dignity Health/CCARE scientific literature review shows that when patients are treated with kindness — when there is an effort made to get to know them, empathize with them, communicate with them, listen to them and respond to their needs — it can lead to the following outcomes:
- faster healing of wounds,
- reduced pain,
- reduced anxiety,
- reduced blood pressure,
- and shorter hospital stays.
The research also shows that when doctors and nurses act compassionately, patients are more likely to be forthcoming in divulging medical information, which in turn leads to more accurate diagnoses. They are more likely to adhere to their prescribed treatments, which leads to fewer readmissions.
At the very least, this research review proves that in the context of health care and medicine, kindness shouldn’t be viewed as a warm and fuzzy afterthought, something nice to show after the “real” medicine is administered.
Instead, kindness should be viewed as an indispensable part of the healing process. After all, it’s been in the Hippocratic Oath for over a century: “I will remember that… warmth, sympathy, and understanding may outweigh the surgeon’s knife or the chemist’s drug.” So it’s the responsibility of those who work and study in the field of medicine to remember the spirit of this pledge, and make acts of kindness not-so-random for the people we serve and heal every day.
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“UNEXPECTED KINDNESS IS THE MOST POWERFUL, LEAST COSTLY, AND MOST UNDERRATED AGENT OF HUMAN CHANGE.”
Bob Kerrey
~~~
Early one evening a gentleman scuttled out to his garage and pulled the lawn furniture out onto the driveway. Shortly after followed the lawnmower, a few gardening tools and a bicycle.
A curious neighbor wandered over and asked if he was going to have a garage sale.
“No,” replied the gentleman, “my son just bought his first car and right now he’s getting ready for a big date.”
“So what’s with all the stuff?” asked the neighbor.
“Well, after years of moving tricycles, toys and sports equipment out of the way every time I came home from work I wanted to make sure the driveway was ready for him.”
~~~
Make someone happy today. Mind your own business.
~~~
Jill: What’s wrong, Mary?
Mary: I’m tired! I’ve been out seven nights in a row. I’m having too much fun!
Jill: Maybe you should get married again.
~~~
Proper attire is required in the cafeteria at the University of Maine. To enforce that rule, the management posted this notice: “Shoes are required to eat in this cafeteria.”
Next to it, a student added, “Socks can eat wherever they want.”
~~~
Marriage is like a tango. . . it takes two, and occasionally one has to bend over backward to keep the dance going.
~~~
OPINIONS ABOUT LOVE FROM KIDS
“I’m in favor of love as long as it doesn’t happen when ‘The Simpsons’ is on television.” (Anita, 6)
“Love will find you, even if you are trying to hide from it. I have been trying to hide from it since I was five, but the girls keep finding me.” (Bobby, 8)
“I’m not rushing into being in love. I’m finding fourth grade hard enough.” (Regina, 10)
THE PERSONAL QUALITIES NECESSARY TO BE A GOOD LOVER
“One of you should know how to write a check. Because, even if you have tons of love, there is still going to be a lot of bills.” (Ava, 8)
SOME SUREFIRE WAYS TO MAKE A PERSON FALL IN LOVE WITH YOU
“Tell them that you own a whole bunch of candy stores.” (Del, 6)
“Don’t do things like have smelly, green sneakers. You might get attention, but attention ain’t the same thing as love.” (Alonzo, 9)
“One way is to take the girl out to eat. Make sure it’s something she likes to eat. French fries usually works for me.” (Bart, 9)
HOW CAN YOU TELL IF TWO ADULTS EATING DINNER AT A RESTAURANT ARE IN LOVE?
“Just see if the man picks up the check. That’s how you can tell if he’s in love.” (John, 9)
“Lovers will just be staring at each other and their food will get cold. Other people care more about the food.” (Brad, 8)
“It’s love if they order one of those desserts that are on fire. They like to order those because it’s just like how their hearts are…on fire.” (Christine, 9)
WHAT MOST PEOPLE ARE THINKING WHEN THEY SAY “I LOVE YOU”
“The person is thinking: Yeah, I really do love him. But I hope he showers at least once a day.” (Michelle, 9)
HOW A PERSON LEARNS TO KISS
“You learn it right on the spot when the gooshy feelings get the best of you.” (Doug, 7)
“It might help to watch soap operas all day.” (Carin, 9)
WHEN IS IT OKAY TO KISS SOMEONE?
“It’s never okay to kiss a boy. They always slobber all over you. That’s why I stopped doing it.” (Jean, 10)
HOW TO MAKE LOVE ENDURE
“Spend most of your time loving instead of going to work.” (Tom, 7)
“Don’t forget your wife’s name…That will mess up the love.” (Roger, 8)
“Be a good kisser. It might make your wife forget that you never take out the trash.” (Randy, 8)
~~~
What an automated society we live in.
Have you ever noticed that when a traffic signal turns green, it automatically activates the horn of the car behind you?
~~~
When our second child was on the way, my wife and I attended a pre-birth class aimed at couples who had already had at least one child. The instructor raised the issue of breaking the news to the older child. It went like this:
“Some parents,” she said, “tell the older child, ‘We love you so much we decided to bring another child into this family.’ But think about that. Ladies, what if your husband came home one day and said, ‘Honey, I love you so much I decided to bring home another wife.'”
One of the women spoke up immediately. “Does she cook???”
~~~
“CONSTANT KINDNESS CAN ACCOMPLISH MUCH. AS THE SUN MAKES ICE MELT, KINDNESS CAUSES MISUNDERSTANDING, MISTRUST, AND HOSTILITY TO EVAPORATE”
Albert Schweitzer
~~~
Ray Mitchell
Indianapolis, Indiana
Management is not responsible for duplicates from previous dailies. The editor is somewhat senile.
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