Yahoo Lifestyle It feels nice to be kind, says actor who left notes for strangers
"I want to dive more into what it is to be kind", says actor and filmmaker Joshua Ford.
The 31-year-old from Finchley, north London, spent a month leaving notes of encouragement across London for strangers to find.
"I was having a bit of a difficult time last year and I was forced into a position where I had to self-reflect," he said.
"I wanted to do something which was kind, something I could practise some creativity and connect with other people."
'Supported by other Londoners'
"I love words, I love poetry, I love the power of words," said Ford, who has appeared in some films and series on Amazon Prime.
"I just decided to handwrite 100 little cards and set them all off around London on the Tube, on the buses, all over the place."
On the outside, they said the words: "Hey you, open me."
"Inside there's a message of kindness and an invitation to connect," he said.
"Out of 100 cards I got between 30 and 35 people get back in touch."
These included people from Brazil, Spain, Italy, who picked up the notes while visiting the capital city.
Ford then turned the kindness project into a short film, using reaction from some of the people who discovered the notes.
"It was all about connecting with the people around me and feeling supported by other Londoners," Ford said. "It was amazing."
"The project was to make me feel good, but the people involved in the project felt good picking up a card," he added.
"And then people watching the film afterwards felt good watching the film. It was like a triple win."
Eloise Skinner, London-based psychotherapist and author, said it was recognised that people could boost their wellbeing through acts of kindness, even if the recipient is a stranger.
"For an act of kindness like Joshua's, I'd say there might also be a wider community factor, since the act of kindness was on a broader level, and intended to reach widely," she said.
This included strengthened community ties, feeling closer to those around us, and viewing oneself as an active member of the community, she said.
"On a more biological level, research suggests that kindness can boost dopamine and serotonin, giving us a sense of elevated mood - sometimes referred to as the 'helper's high'," she added.
Ted Lawlor, who runs a series of wellness events, said the "helper's high" often brings "greater satisfaction than acts of self-serving kindness".
"It seems like that's exactly what Joshua experienced with his project," said the 26-year-old from south-east London.
He said he too had experienced the benefits of helping others and it helped him through a serious bout of depression in 2017.
"Transforming my struggles into tools to help others gave me an overwhelming sense of purpose and gratitude," he said.
"It reminded me that even in our hardest moments, we can make a difference - and that's a gift both to others and ourselves."
'Universal language'
Mr Lawlor said kindness was "contagious".
"One small act can inspire others to pay it forward, leading to widespread positivity and meaningful change in attitudes and behaviours across society," he added.
"The world is currently going through a great divide, where some people are losing hope, whether that be in the system, their neighbours or their own future, and others are rejoicing in the fact that things could be about to turn in their favour.
"In a polarised world, kindness acts as a universal language that transcends differences in race, religion, and culture, helping to heal divisions and encourage mutual understanding."
Ford said he would continue to leave notes across London for strangers to find.
"I still do it now just for me, because I really enjoy it," he said.
"It feels nice to be kind."
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