This post was submitted by an anonymous Howard County community member
“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others” -Mahatma Gandhi.
Did you make a New Year’s resolution to better yourself, your community and maybe even the world? There is no better time to honor your promise to yourself and your mental health than February!
This month is full of special observances to remind you to make the world (including your world!) a better place:
February is National Friend Month and February 11 is National Make a Friend Day
Reaching out to old friends will benefit the mental health of both your friend and yourself. Humans innately have a need to know that they matter to others, and what better way to make someone feel special than a call, text or email. In fact, February 7 was Send a Card to a Friend Day– even though the day has passed, why not surprise a friend with an e-card, or better yet, snail-mail a real card. How vintage!
While you are feeling friendly, go out and make a new friend! There is always someone you can connect with and they may just need a friend right now. Put yourself in someone else’s shoes and imagine how February feels for them- the focus on love for someone who feels alone, coupled with the starkness of a dark and cold winter can feel extremely isolating. Depression and alcohol and drug use are just a few of the issues someone might be struggling with right now. You can help by being a support person and asking them what they need, whether it is a listening ear or a helpful hand to reach out for more assistance.
February 14-20 is Random Acts of Kindness Week and Random Acts of Kindness Day is February 17
Spread kindness to others by doing good for others. Give a compliment, pay for a stranger’s coffee, or let someone in front of you in line at the grocery store. Even better, reach out to a friend who could use some guidance and help them get the help they need. The possibilities are endless- and can mean so much to someone who is feeling down. Make it a day of kindness, or commit to a week!
Optimist Day is February 16
Have you been wanting to make changes but were waiting for a sign? Optimist Day is your sign that today is the beginning of the best of your life. Make a plan to reach out for help with unhealthy behaviors such as alcohol abuse and drug use. One of the easiest first steps you can take is to contact a helpline like Howard County Grassroots Crisis Line at 410-531-6677 or dial the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988.
“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted”- Aesop
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