Self-Care with a Chronic Illness: Send Kindness to Others

It's Arthritis Awareness Month! This month I am challenging you to take a little time each day and practice better self-care. Each day in May, I plan to share one simple way you can show yourself some love and appreciation.

Send Kindness to Others. 
A very simple way of sending kindness to others is saying the words, "May you be well. May you be happy." This is a simple mindfulness activity I have learned from the app Buddhify. By sending out these simple words to my friends, families, and even strangers, I instantly feel my body relax and my heart open up to greatness.

Random Acts of Kindness shares reasons kindness is good for those of us with a chronic illness:

• Produces endorphins which reduce pain 
• Creates less cortisol and therefore less stress
• Anxiety levels are reduced 
• Helps with depression
• Lowers blood pressure