Assignment 5 Takeaway

Paying it forward /random acts of kindness has become increasingly popular among people across the world. From buying a stranger’s coffee in the line behind you to visiting an elderly home and listening to them. Both examples are ways in which people give back to one another regardless of the circumstances. Over the course of a week, I paid it forward to five separate individuals, some of them I was able to see reactions, but all these acts impacted me as well. From helping a stranger at Costco to leaving a new blanket and gift card for a homeless man that lives close to our house, all the acts of kindness/paying it forward that I did in that week made me feel a way I had never really felt before. Between the feelings and words of gratitude from the strangers to washing away all my stress, worries and agitation, the acts themselves made me feel more positive and productive with other everyday things.

                I learned from this assignment that it does not take much but a small act to make someone or you feel good, in multiple different ways. It can make a difference for someone’s day or life and it can also bring some health benefits along with it. This subject relates to a Health psychology class that I had one semester. In that class we were introduced to self-care and how you should always take care of yourself whether it is mental or physical. Paying it forward is a good way to exercise self-care as it tends to reduce stress levels and depression along with boosting one’s self esteem. If it became a part of someone daily routine, it would be a enormous benefit to their health. The image below was chosen as it shows if the rate of random acts of kindness increases it will slowly outnumber and decrease acts of violence.