Although I am raising funds for Quaker Social Action, readers of this blog will know that I have found that by acting kindly I have often experienced happiness myself. I also hope that kindness will have an impact on others. Action for Happiness is a movement that aims to ‘help people take action for a happier and more caring world’. One such action is kindness: ‘What goes around comes around – and with kindness it really does. Research shows that being kind to others increases our own levels of happiness as well as theirs. What’s more it has a knock-on effect – kindness is contagious, so it makes our communities nicer places to be.’

In her book The How of Happiness: A Scientific Approach to Getting the Life You Want psychologist Sonja Lyubomirsky identifies a number of strategies that that promote connections with others, one of which is carrying out acts of kindness. She has advice for how to get the most from this practice such as adding variety so acts continue to give a lift. She also suggests deciding what to do, and when, so as not to become overwhelmed. However research does suggest that a greater happiness boost may come from doing several acts of kindness on a single day rather than spread over a week. In trying to reach my goal I have focused more on variety than on frequency on particular days but having reminded myself of this, I’ll give it another go!

In the meantime, here are some more of my acts of kindness. I have:

86. Helped someone who could no longer manage it to pick his damsons and plums … just the pears and apples to go

87. Given away vegetables grown in our raised beds

88. Spread the word about a friend’s new (and excellent) venture, encouraging others to support him

89. Given a talk promoting a charity I care about

90. Having been asked to give feedback,taken care to offer what might be seen as challenging comments in a constructive way

91. In a group discussion tried to make everyone feel included, without insisting that everyone speak

92, Committed to reducing the amount of plastic I use, even if it means spending more

93. Used a train rather than driving even though it was less convenient and cost more

94. Given away home-made marmalade

95. Alerted someone (privately) to an error on their website

96. Gone home half-way through an evening outdoor gig to collect coats for folk who were getting cold

97. Mindfully walked around my garden appreciating the flowers, ‘weeds’ (plants in the wrong place), shrubs, and listening to the birdsong

98. Shared a link to an online environmental campaign, encouraging folk to sign up

99. Picked some wonderfully scented sweetpeas to put in a guest’s bedroom before her arrival

100. Looked up contact information for someone who does not have a computer.

Thank you to all who have supported me so far. And if anyone else would like to sponsor me, please take a look at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/c-tisdall.