“Hello and welcome back! You are listening to Find Your Kind the podcast with your host Delaney Janks. You’re currently listening to this podcast on the Hopewell Valley Student Publications Network where students publish content to share with the world. Please note that the opinions expressed in this episode are mine, and mine alone. In this episode, “The Simplicity of Kindness”, I’ll be wrapping up everything I’ve talked about in my previous episodes and discuss some final “kind acts” you can do in your everyday life.

1. One of the best ways to increase our own happiness is to do things that make other people happy.
2. Generosity and compassion have been linked to greater life satisfaction, better mental and physical health, stronger bonds, and generous people even live longer.
3. The happiness people derive from expressing kindness to others creates a positive feedback loop: with the more positive feelings you feel after showing kindness, you’ll have the urge to continue that kindness.
4. When you are kind to someone else, they’ll be more likely to pass that kindness along to others.
5. Just because we have the capacity for kindness and clearly reap real benefits from it, doesn’t mean that we always act with kindness.
6. Think of kindness as a muscle that can be strengthened through repeated use. 

With a little creativity, the areas where you can exert kindness are endless. So here are a few “random” ideas that can be done whenever:

1. Think about helping a stranger. It’s often the smallest actions that have the biggest impact.
2. Try smiling more at strangers. How does it feel when someone smiles at you? In most cases, it makes you happier and you probably smile back. It’s harder to be upset when you’re smiling.
3. Simply using manners is a way to express kindness. When you say “please” when you ask for something, maybe to a waiter, cashier, or stranger, it changes the tone of request and instead of making a demand, you’re being courteous. This also makes them more likely to want to help you.
4. You can always try letting someone go ahead of you in line. If you notice the person behind you has less items than you, your cart is full, and you’re not rushing anywhere, why not let them go ahead? It will save them time, and they’ll also be surprised by your kindness. 
5. You can also try sending real greeting cards to people rather than contacting them through your phone or social media. You can also consider sending more random cards letting someone know you’re thinking of them and miss them..
6. Instead of holding onto it and possibly forgetting it, why not make someone’s day? You can put it in a collection tin you see in a store, in tip jars, and...

“Hello and welcome back! You are listening to Find Your Kind the podcast with your host Delaney Janks. You’re currently listening to this podcast on the Hopewell Valley Student Publications Network where students come together to publish content to share with the world. Please note that the opinions expressed in this episode are mine, and mine alone. In this episode, “The Art of Self Love”, my goal is to talk about how we can begin the journey of being kinder to ourselves by shifting our mindset to one of self-compassion, and forgiveness.

1. There’s an emphasis on having romantic relationships and finding that “ideal person” who will make us happy and fulfilled, but studies have actually shown that having good friends is even more important to our psychological welfare. 
2. Friends bring more happiness into our lives than virtually anything else
3. Friends can relieve stress, prevents loneliness, and provides us with a source of comfort and support. 
4. The purpose of this episode is to discuss ways to maintain friendships because making close friends doesn’t “just happen” and it’s common for us to struggle when it comes to developing real, quality connections with people. 
5. Introduce this episode’s guest: Jacky Sun

1. How did we meet?
2. In what ways do we comfort each other?
3. Do we ever get jealous of each other and how do we handle it?
4. Are we good at listening to each other?
5. Do we ever feel left out? If so, how do we make each other feel included?
6. How do we support each other’s insecurities?
7. Do we ever get angry at each other and what do we do in those situations?

1. Emphasizing the importance of the famous Beatles lyrics: “I get by with a little help from my friends” 
2. Friends are the ones that make us feel comfortable and also know our shortcomings but still love us anyway
3. You should be the best version of yourself when surrounded by your friends
4. You get what you give in a true friendship
5. Friendship needs nurturing— You can’t plant seeds, forget about them, then hope that something will grow someday without any effort from you

• Creek Whistle by Steve Adams
• Reasons to Hope by Reed...

“Hello and welcome back! You are listening to Find Your Kind the podcast with your host Delaney Janks. You’re currently listening to this podcast on the Hopewell Valley Student Publications Network where students come together to publish content to share with the world. Please note that the opinions expressed in this episode are mine, and mine alone. In this episode, “The Art of Self Love”, my goal is to talk about how we can begin the journey of being kinder to ourselves by shifting our mindset to one of self-compassion, and forgiveness.

1. Previous episodes focused on kindness in all other aspects but towards ourselves; I want to change that.
2. Derived from Buddhist psychology, self-compassion entails treating yourself with kindness and care like we would treat a dear friend.
3. Self-kindness can vary from taking a self-care day to acting in a kind and understanding way towards yourself.
4. Sometimes we get so caught up in being kind to others, that we forget the importance of being kind to ourselves as well. 
5. It's hard to forgive yourself for your own mistakes, disappointments, etc, but perhaps because we were never taught how to.

1. Being kinder to ourselves may require a little effort and time on our part.
2. We can apply techniques such as self-reflection, self-care, appreciating simple joys and even journaling to our daily lives to remind us to be kind to ourselves.
3. Others ways to practice self-kindness:
4. Self-compassion letter
5. Write a self-compassionate letter where you identify something about yourself that makes you feel ashamed, insecure, or not good enough. Then, express understanding, acceptance, and compassion for that part of yourself that you dislike. 
6. Read the letter later.
7. Take care of your physical health
8. When we’re feeling down, our bodies tend to hang on to all of that pent-up energy and emotion. 
9. A great way to clear that energy is through physical exercise.
10. Have a “Self-Care Day”
11. Draw yourself a bath, cook your favorite food, or choose to stay in for a movie night.
12. You can also buy yourself flowers—There is a great power in treating yourself in the same manner as you would treat someone you loved. 
13. “You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserved your own love and