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Kindness: A solution to a healthy life
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Decades ago, researchers measured the effects of diet on the heart health of rabbits. Not surprisingly, rabbits that were fed fatty foods developed cholesterol problems. But something else was surprising—one group of rabbits had significantly better health outcomes. They had eaten the same foods as the other rabbits, but they had been cared for by a particular researcher—one who happened to be “an unusually kind and caring individual.” She didn’t just feed the rabbits. “She talked to them, cuddled and petted them.” She didn’t know she was altering the results—she was just being herself.
Suddenly this wasn’t just an experiment about genetics and diet. These researchers were learning that relationships matter too. A recent book titled The Rabbit Effect cites these findings and concludes, “Ultimately, what affects our health in the most meaningful ways has … much to do with how we treat one another, how we live, and how we think about what it means to be human.”
in showing kindness
In other words, “the rabbit effect” could just as easily be called “the human effect.”
So many seem so angry as they interact with others—online and in person. Some are raging inside at the outside world, annoyed and impatient with people around them as well as themselves. Even many who aren’t openly hostile have simply become cold, distant, and impersonal. And we wonder why general health and happiness suffer, why peace and calm are so elusive.
Humans, perhaps even more than rabbits, need kindness and caring, affection and love in order to thrive. No one can flourish in an atmosphere of contention and animosity. When we are kind—even if others don’t return the favour—we carry a healthy inner peace, knowing we have generated light instead of heat. When we sincerely care for and about others, we spread compassion and helpfulness more freely throughout the world. And in the process, we create a healthier, happier environment for everyone.
This will always be a world of differing opinions. Like a brook that bubbles over rocks and obstructions, we frequently bump up against those who disagree with us. Learning how to deal with such obstacles is essential to happy living. Sometimes we navigate around them, proceeding on our way. Other times we find ourselves swirling in an eddy, unable to go forward or worse, immobile and stagnant.
Some say that discord is inevitable, simply a part of life. But engaging in contention never yields a positive outcome. Rather, it distracts us from our goals, robs us of contentment and peace, and can even destroy relationships. No one ever wins a quarrel; both sides ultimately lose.
There are times when we want to persuade someone to see things our way. And if we can do so with kindness and respect, we have a chance. But arguing does not convince others of our position; it only convinces them of our disposition.
Do we sometimes value skillful debating over sensitive peacemaking? Perhaps we should be more like the schoolteacher who gave extra credit to students who could mediate a disagreement and get classmates to calm down and see the other side of things. Or like the couple who found that when they wrote down their feelings before sharing them, they were able to see how hurtful some of their comments were and revised them to be more loving.
Disagreements and differences are inevitable, but they don’t have to lead to contention or anger. We can choose to listen with our hearts, respond with respect, and turn down the heat when we sense tensions rising. By considering the feelings and perspectives of others, we can avoid the pride that turns our loved ones and associates into our opponents. Then, if we disagree with them, we can do so with love and respect, not hostility and contention. It’s not worth engaging in battle. We find a greater measure of peace and joy when we put compassion before contention and people before opinions.
If cuddling a rabbit can lower its cholesterol, imagine what can happen if we look around and reach out in simple, loving ways to people around us. That’s the power of human kindness.
By Samuel Enos Eghan
News
President Mahama urges new Supreme Court Justices to uphold Constitution and judicial independence
President John Dramani Mahama has urged three newly sworn-in Justices of the Supreme Court to uphold the Constitution and administer justice without fear or favour.
He said the authority of the Supreme Court depended on the confidence and trust of the Ghanaian people and, therefore, the new Justices must protect the rights of citizens and ensure that no individual or institution was above the law.
President Mahama made the call at the Presidency in Accra during the swearing-in ceremony of, Justice Sophia Rosetta Bernasko Essah, Justice Edward Amoako Asante and Justice Anthony Forson Jr. as Justices of the Supreme Court.
Congratulating the three on their appointments, he said their new positions came with a major responsibility to strengthen Ghana’s constitutional democracy and the rule of law.
“The oath you have taken today is consequential, not ceremonial. It is a solemn covenant with the people of Ghana,” President Mahama stated.
He said Supreme Court Justices needed more than legal knowledge, noting that they must also demonstrate sound judgement, integrity, courage, patience and a strong commitment to justice.
President Mahama urged the new Justices to remain independent when handling cases involving strong public emotions or political interests.
He advised them not to be influenced by pressure, praise or criticism, but to allow the quality of their reasoning, fairness and loyalty to the Constitution to define their legacy.
The President called on the judiciary to continue with reforms aimed at improving the delivery of justice.
He said prolonged cases, unnecessary adjournments and delays in delivering judgments created hardship for ordinary citizens and could undermine public confidence in the justice system.
President Mahama, therefore, urged the judiciary to embrace appropriate technology and improve the accessibility and efficiency of the courts.
He called for Supreme Court judgments to be written in clear language to provide reliable guidance to lower courts, public institutions, lawyers and citizens.
President Mahama described Justice Bernasko Essah as an experienced judicial officer whose service at the Court of Appeal would bring valuable experience to the Supreme Court.
He noted that Justice Asante brought both national and regional judicial experience, having served on the Court of Appeal and as a former President of the ECOWAS Court of Justice.
According to him, Justice Asante’s experience in regional integration, human rights and international law would enrich the work of the Supreme Court.
On Justice Forson, President Mahama said his decades of experience in private legal practice and his former leadership of the Ghana Bar Association would bring an important perspective to the Court.
He said his experience of representing citizens, businesses and institutions before the courts could help the Supreme Court better understand how legal decisions affect ordinary people.
Speaking on behalf of the three Justices, Justice Sophia Rosetta Bernasko Essah expressed gratitude to President Mahama for the confidence reposed in them.
She pledged that the three would hear cases fairly, decide according to the law, act with courage and integrity, and remain faithful to the Constitution and the oaths they had sworn.
The three Justices were administered the Oath of Allegiance, Judicial Oath and Oath of Secrecy by President Mahama before receiving their warrants of appointment.
By: Jacob Aggrey
When international journalist Enoch Worlanyo first described Alpine, Texas, as “The Eden of the Far West,” he meant it as a love letter. This week, that love letter was returned.
Alpine Mayor Catherine Eaves recently referenced Worlanyo’s feature story in her own vision for the high-desert town — a gesture that has sparked a transatlantic moment of pride from the heart of West Africa to the heart of Far West Texas.
Nestled 4,475 feet above sea level in the Big Bend, Alpine is no ordinary small town. It is the gateway to Big Bend National Park, the cultural capital of the Davis Mountains, and critically — the beating heart of the world’s largest Gold Tier International Dark Sky Reserve. Here, the Milky Way doesn’t just appear. It blazes.
Worlanyo, reporting from Accra, has been following Alpine’s evolution closely — its preservation of dark skies, its downtown renaissance, and its unique cast of community builders, including Denver-based pitmaster and former Alpine favourite Annie Yayra Hiamey of Desert Delight.
WHY THE WORLD IS LOOKING WEST:
The Dark Sky Sanctuary: In an era of light pollution, Alpine offers something vanishingly rare — crystalline, protected night skies where thousands of stars, planets and the river of the Milky Way are visible to the naked eye. A true pilgrimage for astro-tourists.
Heritage Meets Hospitality: Beyond the skies, it’s the people. A historic downtown, thriving arts scene, and genuine West Texas warmth that makes strangers feel like neighbours.
The Ultimate Basecamp: From Marfa’s mystery lights to the trails of Big Bend and the peaks of the Davis Mountains, Alpine is the centre of it all.
A message of gratitude from Accra
Reflecting on Mayor Eaves’ acknowledgement, Worlanyo said:
“Seeing Mayor Eaves reference my description of Alpine as ‘The Eden of the Far West’ brought a wave of warmth straight from Texas to Accra. I am deeply honoured and humbled — thank you, Madam Mayor, for that thoughtful nod.
“My work may be based in Accra, Ghana, but a piece of my heart never left Alpine. I follow every story, every milestone, every starry night you share. Distance has not faded the connection.
“There is a pure, untamed magic to Alpine that you cannot find anywhere else on Earth. By day, endless horizons that cleanse the soul. By night, a sky so alive it feels like you can touch eternity. It is truly a sanctuary.
“So this is my invitation to every traveller, dreamer, and stargazer reading this: Pack your bags and head west. Come experience the warmth, stand under a sky ablaze with stars, and discover for yourself why Alpine steals every heart that finds it.”
About Enoch Worlanyo
Enoch Worlanyo is an Accra-based international broadcast journalist, Head of Sports at Asempa FM, Adom FM, and Adom TV, covering sports, cultural heritage, environmental conservation, and global tourism.
His work bridges continents, telling African stories to the world and bringing the world’s hidden Edens back home.
CAPTION
Enoch Worlanyo
