Your Kindness Is Showing Having been born and raised in Yankton, I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else and I never have. Sheltered? Scared? You might think so. I’d say lucky or blessed. Honestly, I’ve never had the desire to leave because we live in a wonderful community. Every time I’m out and about, I see acts of kindness scattered everywhere. I’ve seen people saying hello or smiling to each other, holding the door for another, helping an elder carry boxes into the recycle station, donating to various local organizations and supporting programs that benefit the community or our youth. I often see a “Letter to the Editor” in the Yankton Daily Press & Dakotan where someone is thanking another for paying for their meal or shoveling snow off their sidewalk or another kind act. There is an entire week designated to striving to perform random acts of kindness. Random Acts of Kindness Week is February 12-18, with Random Acts of Kindness Day falling every February 17th. The day Kindness Day first started in 1995 in Denver, Colorado and encourages performing kind gestures to others as a step toward making the world a better place. What can kindness do? Aside from making someone else’s day or bringing light to another’s gloomy perspective, being kind has several health benefits for you too! Research has shown that performing kind acts for others over time can help: Y Make you happier Y Make socially anxious people feel better Y Increase positive moods Y Increase self esteem Y Increase longevity Y Lower blood pressure Y Slow the aging process Y Create better relationships with others Y Make you more successful at work Y Increase your trustworthiness Y Lower your stress level Y Decrease depression A New Year’s Resolution Worth Keeping! Learn to knit or crochet. Classes available. Call for schedule. Y Decrease pain by increasing endorphins, your body’s natural painkillers Y Inspire others to show kindness Celebrate! How can you celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Day or Week? It doesn’t have to involve a lot of time or money. A few kind words or a small gesture will do the trick to brighten up someone’s day and might just make it contagious enough to keep the warm gestures flowing. Brushing the snow off your car while you’re waiting for it to warm up in the parking lot after work? Why not brush off your co-worker’s car too? It will only take a couple minutes. Hold the door for the person behind you. Wish everyone you see “Good morning” or “Good afternoon” and mean it. Did you ask the store clerk for assistance? Thank them for their help. With so many ways to show kindness, you’ll never run out of an excuse: • Smile • Be polite • Be friendly to everyone you meet. Everyone is important. • Compliment someone • Receive great service? Tell their manager or supervisor • Say thank you to those who help you • Write a thank you note to those that really came through • Take the time to teach someone who’s willing to learn • Write a note to a friend, a past teacher, your boss or a mentor for their role in your life • Tell another to “have a good day,” and really mean it • Post anonymous sticky-notes with positive messages for others to find • Leave quarters at the laundromat • Leave pennies ‘face up’ where a child might find them WHEN MY CLIENTS SPEAK, I LISTEN. It’s a simple but effective way of helping people reach their financial goals - and it’s a way of doing business that Raymond James has pioneered for more than 50 years. Make your voice count. Partner with me and get guidance that’s in tune with your life. LIFE WELL PLANNED. Kathy Greeneway Certified Financial PlannerTM 225 Cedar Street, Yankton (605)665-4940 909 Broadway, Tripp Park Plaza 605-689-3999 • www.eweknitit.com Open: Monday-Friday 10am-6pm • Saturday 10am-5pm 6vHERVOICEvJANUARY/FEBRUARY 2017 First Dakota Brokerage Services, Inc. A subsidiary of First Dakota National Bank. Securities offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC an independent broker/dealer. Securities are offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC, and are not deposits; not insured by FDIC or any other governmental agency; not guaranteed by the financial institution; subject to risk & may lose value. First Dakota National Bank and First Dakota Brokerage Services are independent of RJFS.