Mastery Mondays

Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.

It's a weird, scary and strange time, for a world enduring the Covid-19pandemic, and all too often the media can make things seem worse. Between fake news (somehow that's back again), equally terrifying real news and endless Instagram directives (in all caps) not so calmly telling you to 'STAY AT HOME', it's almost inevitable that the constant stream of negativity is going to affect your mental health.

Which is why, while we're all social distancing and missing the care, comfort and convenience of our normal lives, it's more important than ever to flood your feed with a good dose of positivity.

So, when it comes to positive news about coronavirus, it's all about switching the narrative from scaremongering, to caremongering. These are some individual heroes proving love and kindness will always win.

1.Journalist Lauren Katzenberg Fosters A Homeless Dog For Her Quarantine

NY Times journalist, Lauren Katzenberg, showed the love for our animal friends who are also feeling the effects of Coronavirus by fostering a homeless dog. A genius way to help with the increasing pressure on dog shelters whilst also gaining some adorable company for social distancing. Win, win.

2. Butcher Dave Jones Gifts Food Parcels To Those On Benefits

The owner of D Jones Butchers in Earlsheaton, Dewsbury, Dave Jones, not only has the most entertaining Twitter feed we've come across lately, but also proved himself to be a Coronavirus kindness king. 

Jones posted a call out on Twitter saying, 'If anyone near our shop has to self isolate over the coronavirus and are on benefits I will put together a two week food parcel that will be delivered to your door.' Quality butcher, quality human.

3. Kind Citizen Rebecca Mehra Helps An Elderly Couple Get Their Food Shopping

With the elderly and vulnerable instructed to stay at home during Covid-19, kind citizen Rebecca Mehra did what she could to help. 'I went to the grocery store this afternoon. As I was walking in I heard a woman yell to me from her car. I walked over and found an elderly woman and her husband. She cracked her window open a bit more, and explained to me nearly in tears that they are afraid to go in the store,' Mehra Tweeted. 

The professional runner continued on to say that the couple were in their 80s and concerned for their health. They gave Mehra a 100 dollar bill and a shopping list. 'I bought the groceries and placed them in her trunk, and gave her back the change. She told me she had been sitting in the car for nearly 45 min before I had arrived, waiting to ask the right person for help,' Mehra continued on Twitter.

4. Twitter Hero Samantha Kelly Sets Up A Hashtag To Help The Vulnerable

In a time of self-isolation, communication is key. Ensuring those in need of help receive it is Samantha Kelly who started the hashtag #SelfIsolationHelp. The idea? To join those who can offer assistance and run errands to those who have been forced to self-isolate. 

'There was so much negativity and I wanted to do something useful. This is about people feeling like they are not on their own, and that there are people out there who do want to help,' Kelly told The Times.

5. Copywriter Becky Wass Starts A Postcard Scheme To Combat Loneliness

An inevitable side effect of self-isolating is loneliness. Aiming to combat it is freelance copywriter Becky Wass who devised a postcard scheme that allows vulnerable members of society to request that others carry out certain errands for them.

Wass designed the postcard that aims to help with essential errands whilst also offering up more socially-skewed services such as a chat on the phone.

6. TV Presenter Noel Fielding Launches An Online Art Club For Kids

Ever the artistic extrovert, TV presenter Noel Fielding has conjured up a way to keep children entertained at home whilst schools are shut: an online art club. 

Taking to Twitter, Fielding announced the creative new scheme encouraging children to submit artworks fitting a theme of his choice with a winner nabbing a spot in the Art Club Hall Of Fame.

After sharing several of the submitted works, the comedian Tweeted, 'You gotta love this! Kids are so pure. Art Club was beautiful today. Thank you to everyone who joined in. I love you all. keep safe and keep smiling and creating.'

7. Footballer Gary Neville Offers Up His Hotels To NHS Staff

Pro footballer and hotel owner, Gary Neville, hit headlines today with the news that he is closing both of his hotels. In place of guests, Neville will be offering rooms to NHS workers and medical professionals to support them whilst they self-isolate from family members. 

In a video statement Neville said, 'We've been in consultation with health services and our 176 beds will be occupied by National Health Service workers and medical professionals. They will be free of charge and the health workers will be able to stay there without any cost.'

Additionally, the entrepreneur vocalised his plans to protect his staff during Coronavirus: 

'The most important thing is the health of our staff and our guests and we've taken this decision with that foremost in our minds.We will not be making anyone redundant or asking anyone to take unpaid leave, we're working on a package for our staff to make sure they retain income.'

8. Pub Owner Ben Boothman Offers Free Rooms To Those Self-Isolating

In Greater Manchester, pub owner Ben Boothman is offering free rooms to those that need to self-isolate, but are unable to at home. Having considered his own situation (Boothman's mother needs to self-isolate on her own), the owner of The Flying Horse Hotel explained that he wanted to 'offer rooms to people in the same situation'.

'If you think you are going to put someone in your household in danger, then do get in touch. We can’t have people who are at risk themselves, but we can help in this way, by allowing them to isolate alone,' Boothman added.

9. Landlord Reassures Tenant Amy Gledhill That She Has A Home

In times of economic uncertainty, let alone when you're being asked to stay at home and often can't work, it can be those who rent that are most at risk of losing the roof over their heads. So when tenant Amy Gledhill's landlord sent her a kindhearted message ensuring she would have a place to live whether 'your circumstances change', it caused her to sob with relief.

In turn, Gledhill Tweeted in response to her landlord's generous words, inciting other landlords to do the same. 'Landlords, take note. If you’re in a position to say this to someone. please do. When we can’t rely on the government, we’ve got to help each other.'

Altruism & Kindness

What’s one thing you can do today to help your community affected by the Coronavirus?