Make Kindness The Norm: Touching Neighbor Stories From Bel Air

BEL AIR, MD — Let's be totally honest. We could all use a little more kindness in Bel Air and beyond— and what better time to show it than as we approach National Random Acts of Kindness Day.

Since the start of the pandemic, so many of us in Bel Air and throughout the country have felt like the weight of the world is bearing down on our shoulders. A simple, kind gesture, however, can easily brighten someone's day and give them the extra "oomph" they need to keep going.

Best of all, kindness is contagious. One good deed usually leads to another, according to a report from Dartmouth College.

"The positive effects of kindness are experienced in the brain of everyone who witnessed the act, improving their mood and making them significantly more likely to 'pay it forward,'" the report said.

SEE ALSO:

• Random Acts Of Kindness Day 2022: 17 Ways To Be Kind On Feb. 17

Kindness has health perks, too. According to the Mayo Clinic, it's been shown to increase self-esteem, empathy and compassion and improve mood. It can also decrease blood pressure and cortisol, a stress hormone, which directly impacts stress levels.

"People who give of themselves in a balanced way also tend to be healthier and live longer," the hospital added.

With Thursday, Feb. 17 marking National Random Acts of Kindness Day, Patch recently asked its readers to reveal the nicest thing a neighbor has done for them. "Make kindness the norm" — #MakeKindnessTheNorm on social media — is this year's theme.

Bel Air residents did not disappoint with their stories of kindness. Here are some of the responses Patch received:

Care For A Dying husband

My neighbor was a previous hospice nurse. She took great care of my husband the day he died. I don't know what I would have done without her. She was a blessing sent by God. — Carol Stearn Vitak

Cupcake Surprise

My neighbors had a birthday party and it was only them because of covid, they barely speak English and the mom knocked on my door and gave us cupcakes for our family and that was probably the most random act of kindness I experienced. — Kendall Mayy Princess Dugan

Help During Cancer Battle

[My neighbor] took care of me (I live alone and have no family in the area) and my cats while I was going through cancer treatment and surgeries. She also took me to my treatments. — Arlene Klapporth

Snowstorm Emergency

My husband was in a coma at Hopkins from cancer treatments and we got that really big snowstorm. I had a sports car at the time. But was unable to get my car out. My neighbor kid ( who was brand new to our neighborhood) brought a snowplow over and dug my car out. He became my hero. Ten years later he and my son are dear friends. — Susan High

Dog Rescue

Brought our dog back home and put him safely in the backyard when he escaped and went to his house. — Lilibet Alvira

Support Following Cancer Diagnosis

Our neighbors brought us cards, gifts and gift cards when our son was diagnosed with cancer. We are new to the neighborhood and many of them don’t even know us. — Elena Vazquez