Kindness in Your Community, Blood Pressure Readings Explained, and Whether to Take RMDs In Kind

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Kindness doesn’t have to be a grand, sweeping act to make a difference. In fact, small, thoughtful actions often have the greatest impact, especially at the community level. These everyday gestures can build connection, ease loneliness, and create a sense of belonging for both the giver and the receiver.

Spreading kindness starts with what you’re already doing. Holding the door for someone, offering a sincere compliment, or patiently listening to someone’s story can brighten an ordinary day. A friendly wave to a neighbor or a brief chat during a walk helps turn familiar faces into real connections.

Consider small, practical gestures as well: returning a shopping cart, writing a thank-you note, or bringing in a neighbor’s mail when they’re away. These actions take little time or effort on your part, yet they quietly communicate care and reliability.

You don’t need to donate money to be generous. Sharing your time or skills can be just as valuable. Offering to read to children at a local library, help a neighbor with light tasks, or volunteer a few hours at a community center can make a meaningful difference.

If you enjoy baking, knitting, or gardening, consider sharing your creations. Homemade treats, a handmade scarf, or extra bounty from your garden often carries more warmth than store-bought gifts because they reflect personal effort.

Kindness grows when it’s repeated. A weekly coffee with someone who lives alone, a standing walking date with friends, or a regular check-in call on a neighbor creates consistency and trust. Over time, these small routines strengthen community bonds.

Even kindness offered quietly to someone who may never know your name adds to a culture of care. And that culture benefits everyone.

If you’d like ideas for building kind, meaningful routines that fit your lifestyle, reply “spread kindness” for thoughtful guidance. 💌 If this resonated with you, forward this newsletter to a friend — kindness is contagious when it’s shared.

“The Last Crayon”
From the life overview of Jacob R., 77, Harrisburg, PA. Shared with permission.

When I was in second grade, the art bin in my classroom was always a jumble of broken crayons, loose marker caps, and paper shavings that never quite got swept away. One afternoon, the class was coloring autumn trees, and it became obvious that nearly every orange crayon had already been worn to dust or gone missing—all except one.

It was a tiny, battered stub with most of its wrapper torn off and its tip flattened from heavy use. But it still worked, which suddenly made it valuable.

My friend Jacob had grabbed the crayon just before Evan, the boy beside him, realized we were out of orange. Evan asked to borrow it “just for a leaf,” and then the girl across from him made the same request. Before long, the little crayon was traveling around the table in slow, careful handoffs. Each classmate used it for a few strokes before passing it along, and every trip left it slightly shorter and more dulled.

By the time it returned to Jacob for the last time, there wasn’t much left to sharpen. He added a few faint swipes to the final leaf on his page. It wasn’t bold, but it was just enough color to finish the picture—and the crayon wore out in the process.

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UNESCO Memory of the World Register
A curated register of historically important documents from around the world, including manuscripts, recordings, photographs, and films. Each entry explains what the item is, where it’s held, and why it matters. It’s a clear way to learn about global history through specific, well-documented materials.

Europeana Newspapers
A large collection of digitized historical newspapers from multiple countries, searchable by date, place, and topic. The papers offer a practical look at how people once received news, advertisements, and public notices. Browsing them gives a sense of daily concerns rather than hindsight summaries.

The Internet Archive: Community Audio
An open collection of audio recordings including oral histories, talks, radio programs, and community-produced material. Items are labeled clearly and easy to play in the browser. It’s a useful resource for listening to real voices and local stories that don’t often appear in formal archives.

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