is Jackie Pilossoph's dating and relationships column, published weekly in Better Magazine
(previously in Chicago Tribune Pioneer Press)

Friday the 13^th makes me feel uneasy. Always has. Call me overly suspicious, but I just don’t like it. However, what I do like about this Friday, November 13^th is that the day is also World Kindness Day. According to the website National Today, World Kindness Day, which is celebrated every year on November 13^th, has been around since 1998. Created by the World Kindness Movement, the purpose of World Kindness day is to promote kindness throughout the world through both small and large gestures, in hopes to bring people together.

Medical imaging might be one of the most dreaded ways to spend an hour: lying flat on your back, being unable to move, and feeling trapped, all while listening to the banging and clanking of machines. Not to mention the worst part—having nothing but time to worry about the results. Whether it’s an MRI, CT scan, PET scan, ultrasound, or even a mammogram, these kinds of tests are extremely scary and stressful for most people, including me. I recently underwent a nuclear medicine scan after cancer treatment, and let me tell you, I had anxiety weeks before the appointment.

For those who want to live a purposeful and happy life, experts suggest that when we first wake up in the morning we express gratitude for the people we know and the things we have that give us joy and meaning. There are actually studies that link practicing gratitude to benefits like better physical health, a more fulfilling social life, and less stress. But whether or not you choose a gratitude ritual upon opening your eyes first thing in the morning, I’d be willing to bet I can name something for which most people are always grateful: that first cup of coffee.

Asking for support can mean so many different things. You can be fundraising and solicit people for their “support.” You might be divorced and seek child “support.” Or, maybe you are looking for approval or encouragement for some kind of life change, so you ask your spouse or a family member to “support” you in your decision.