Widows need all the holiday kindness they can get, but what if the best way to get kindness is to give it? There is a saying, “to have a friend, you must first be a friend”.  I think that also applies to kindness, “to receive a kindness, you must first give a kindness”.  Do you want a holiday boost?  Helping others feels good and makes your own holidays that little bit brighter.

• Every day text someone a message of appreciation/kindness.
• Are you a cook? Deliver cookies to someone alone this year.
• Take someone for a drive to look at Christmas lights.
• Kind deeds and compassion will help you relax and sleep.
• Slow down and let someone go ahead of you; decreases anger and stops irritability.
• If you mail Christmas cards, take a minute to write a personal greeting.
• Donate used blankets and towels to animal shelters.
• Have friends over to decorate ornaments for local shelters, Nursing Homes and Patients.
• Clear up your clutter by offering new or gently used items on “free” local sites.
• Bundle up bags of candy and leave them in unexpected places of people you know. Put your name on the bag so your friends/family know the candy is safe to eat.

Saying “Hi” to five people today can make their day and yours.  Smiling while you do it makes you feel twice as positive.  Collect compliments about a specific person.  Jot them onto paper strips and fill a jar with them. Mary Francis, The Sisterhood of Widows widows need holiday kindness, the sisterhood of widows, widow support, grieving, how to grieve, grief, life of a widow, #thesisterhoodofwidows, #widow, #grief, #griefsupport, #widowsupport, #howtogrieve, #widowshelpingwidows