Colorado Man's Family After His Death: Be Kind To One Another

DENVER, CO — A Colorado man's family has a single request for others to honor him one year after the coronavirus claimed his life: Be kind to others.

Brian Garrett tested positive for COVID-19 early in the pandemic, his family told 11 Alive. A week after he was admitted to the hospital, he died.

Before he got sick, Garrett spent his time driving others to their medical appointments. He had "a huge heart, was a big family person and a wonderful father," his family told the television station.

But it's his kindness his family wants others to remember. They're hoping others will honor his memory by performing a random act of kindness for another person.

"He would do anything for anyone and loved everybody," Brandon Guthrie, Garrett's nephew, told 11 Alive. "Everyone described him as a gentle giant. He was 6-foot-4."

More than a year into the pandemic, many are still coping with disrupted routines, isolation and the overwhelming grief of losing family and friends to the virus.

As a result, they are struggling.

During the pandemic, about 4 in 10 adults in the U.S. have reported symptoms of anxiety or depressive disorder, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. That number is up from 1 in 10 adults who reported symptoms from January to June 2019.

As the pandemic wears on, kindness has become increasingly important. Being kind can go a long way toward improving your emotional state of mind and well-being.

Helping others can reduce stress, according to a 2016 study published in Clinical Psychological Science, a journal of the Association of Psychological Science. The research showed that people who performed more daily acts of kindness were less likely to feel stressed.

On the other hand, on days when they could not complete any acts of kindness, participants reported more stress and negativity.

You don't need a lot of money to perform a random act of kindness. Here are a few ideas:

• In the drive-thru line, pay for the coffee or food for the car behind you.
• Bake some treats for co-workers.
• Donate your old clothing or unused housewares.
• Volunteer for a local nonprofit.
• Smile at a stranger, even if it's behind your mask.