Viva Vitality: Be a RAKtivist!

By Taneil Zanidean on February 28, 2025.

“Wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for kindness”

– Lucius Annaeus Seneca

Did you know? Performing kind acts for others, even towards strangers, significantly improves mental wellbeing by reducing stress, increasing happiness, boosting self-esteem, and fostering social connection. It’s important to look out for each other in and around our community to protect and maintain good mental health for all.

Did you know? Kindness is teachable. “It’s kind of like weight training.” A study conducted at the University of Wisconsin found that people can actually build up their compassion ‘muscle’ and respond to others’ suffering with care and a desire to help.

Did you know? Kindness is contagious. The positive effects of kindness are experienced in the brain of everyone who witnesses a kind act, improving their mood and making them significantly more likely to “pay it forward.” This means one good deed in a crowded area can create a domino effect and improve the day of dozens of people!

Raktivists, or Random Acts of Kindness Activists, are people who turn ordinary days into something special with small, thoughtful gestures – like a sincere smile or offering a seat on the bus. These acts of kindness reconnect us with our humanity, reminding us of the love in the world and inspiring us to pay it forward.

Today, and every day, we encourage you to keep an eye out for an opportunity to help someone by completing a random act of kindness. Let somebody merge while in traffic. Reach out to someone who is having a tough time. Look in the mirror and say three positive things about yourself. Leave a positive review about a local business or restaurant. Use a reusable water bottle. Text someone ‘good morning’ or ‘good night’. Organize a community cleanup.

“Kindness can be the greatest gift that you can give a person. Especially when they are not expecting it.” Let’s make kindness the norm and be community Raktivists!

For more random act of kindness ideas scan the QR code or visit randomactsofkindness.org

Taneil Zanidean is a health promotion facilitator with Recovery Alberta Mental Health and Addiction Services