Kelly Harding began her career as a doctor working in an emergency room, helping patients resolve their physical and mental health issues.
“As a young doctor, I was very interested in why some patients resist disease,” she says. In her quest to understand it, she came across a 1980 study called “Social Environment as a Factor in Diet-Induced Atherosclerosis.” The study found that love erased many of the negative effects of an unhealthy diet in rabbits.
That led Harding to the world of public health and the realization that “much of our health is determined outside the hospital,” she says. Specifically, we found that compassion, kindness, and relationships are important. She eventually published her book, The Rabbit Effect, in 2019.
Harding defines kindness as an act of generosity without expecting anything in return. When it comes to our communities and the people in our lives, “it’s up to each of us to contribute to that on a daily basis,” she says. Here’s how:
“Paying attention to someone is probably one of the greatest gifts you can give.”
When it comes to how to practice kindness yourself, it can be as simple as being with the people in your life: your family, roommates, friends, significant other.
“Caring about someone is probably one of the greatest gifts you can give anyone,” she says. When you’re talking to someone, put your phone somewhere and completely out of sight, she says. Even just leaving it on the table can be a distraction.
Depending on your comfort level and relationship, hugs can go a long way. “Kind, welcoming touch can boost your immune system, lower your blood pressure, improve your mood, and more,” she says.
“Greening your neighborhood reduces the rate of depression”
Don’t underestimate small gestures when it comes to a broader community like your neighborhood.
Something as simple as making eye contact or waving can be beneficial and create a little more social connection, she says. Additionally, efforts to beautify your neighborhood, such as planting trees and flowers, can make a big difference.
“There’s research showing that greening neighborhoods reduces rates of depression, reduces gun violence, and reduces violence,” she says.
The bottom line, Harding says, is that “how we present ourselves to the world actually matters, and not just for our own health, but for the health of other people.”
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