February has been designated the official month of giving back.  In fact, a social movement known as The Halo Effect has been launched to encourage people worldwide to do one good deed every day for 28 days and share their experiences with others.  

Unlike random acts of kindness, The Halo Effect is about forethought.  It’s about planning 28 things that we can do as individuals or in groups each day, hence taking the focus off ourselves and directing positive energy towards others.   

Leanne Bucaro, founder of The Halo Effect, was inspired by an African ritual that encourages 29 days of kindness, and believes February is the perfect month to demonstrate the power of giving back.  

"February is the month with a heart around it - it’s a month of love - it has Valentine’s Day" The Halo Effect is nourishment for the soul," Bucaro said.

"Anyone can take part in The Halo Effect," added Bucaro.  "We encourage people to share their progress and describe how helping others makes them feel... blog, tweet or Facebook about your experiences, tell co-workers, family. Imagine the possibilities."

Good deeds for The Halo Effect do not have to involve money or material things.  They are basically simple ways to make a difference to another person one day at a time.

Some simple ways a senior can make a difference include:

*    Visiting another senior who is older or weaker than you;

*    Shovelling a neighbour’s sidewalk if you are able;

*    Bringing a sick friend some home-baked goods or a home-cooked meal;

*    Making gifts such as wooden toys or a quilted blanket for those in need;

*    Calling a friend and listening to his or her problems;

*    Offering the postman a treat;

*    Babysitting grandkids for a day so their parents can spend some couple time together;

*    Walking a neighbour’s dog or cat-sit for a day;

*    Looking around the house for something to donate to charity; or

*    Inviting a neighbour or friend over for tea or to watch an old movie.

No senior is so poor or weak or busy that he or she cannot take part in The Halo Effect.  One thing most seniors can do, for example, is simply giving a bright smile to everyone you meet and making them feel good about themselves by actually communicating with them instead of merely exchanging pleasantries.  Give them a sincere compliment - whether it is about their grandchild, their dog, their demeanour, their jacket or their smile.  Ask them about their day and really listen. Offer to carry their groceries to their car if they need help.

And don’t limit your beneficiaries to seniors either.  Show your kindness, too, to the little kids in the neighbourhood, the flyer distribution boy, the mother struggling with the stroller in the mall, etc. Your one act of kindness to one person could have an infinite ripple effect.

According to Dr. Sanjeev Sharma, ER physician and CEO of Wellpoint Health Services, not only can The Halo Effect benefit those you choose to help, it can also improve the way you feel.   

"It has been my observation as a physician that good deeds and charitable acts seem to assist an individual in finding physical, emotional and perhaps spiritual balance.  Giving time to help others may have health benefits such as lowering blood pressure, regulating heart rate and boosting mood stability, which in turn can lead to a more happy and fulfilled life."

The Halo Effect challenges you to get out of your comfort zone and reach out to the world around you.  Join the movement, spread the word.  The world is waiting.

Visit http://haloeffect.infinity-pr.com for more information.