Let's be kind to ourselves

I can't stress enough the importance of kindness in our lives. Not only kindness towards others, important though that is, but being kind to ourselves. 

Let me start with myself. I haven't been posting on my blog since last year and I've been feeling guilty. Why haven't you written anything? Is it because you're not only Over 60 but you're now well Over 70? Don't you have anything interesting to share with others? Who wants to see my latest capsule wardrobe anyway? Recently I've realised that I enjoy writing as a hobby, even if nobody reads my blog, so hopefully I will be posting on a more regular basis for the rest of the year. I'm being kind to myself.

Now that I'm heading towards my 77th birthday, I've started researching ways to live a long and healthy life. I'm fortunate that I'm still reasonably fit and healthy and long may it continue! I've been reading a lot about the Blue Zones where locals in five different countries lead long and healthy lives. Amongst the nine significant factors in their lives, eating a healthy diet, moving a lot (that doesn't necessarily mean going to the gym!) and connecting with others were areas where I feel I can make a beneficial change to my life.

Recently I decided to join Dr David Hamilton's free online course The Biology and Contagiousness of Kindness. I subscribe to David's newsletter and when I found out about this course I decided it was right for me, especially as he emphasises how kindness can have a positive impact on our health. Did I tell you that I'm looking forward to celebrating my 100th birthday? Only 23 years to go!

Kindness can consist of small things like holding the door open for someone, letting somebody go ahead of you in the supermarket queue, thanking the cashier, smiling at people in the street - these are all little things that can make other people feel better, but will also make you feel better. When you see what your kindness has done to someone else and how it's made them happy, you feel happy too.

There is also the ripple effect. If you are kind to someone, that person is more likely to be kind to someone else. The person they've been kind to is also likely to show kindness to others. Kindness is contagious! So let's start spreading kindness today.