Sept. 19 - Million Reasons

Day 261 of a year of kindnessKindness ambassador #34, Amy Van Patten Ofenbeck, had a “Million Reasons” to enjoy a recent kindness.

Amy loves Lady Gaga. She describes herself as a HUGE fan. Her nephew, Ben Sandquist, knew how much she loved Lady Gaga so he gave his aunt a spectacular surprise - tickets to her concert! His kindness moved her to tears.

Amy has physical limitations and doesn’t attend a lot of concerts. But Ben and his mother - Amy’s sister-in-law - did some research about the best venue to accommodate her wheelchair and landed on the United Center in Chicago. So earlier this week, Amy flew from Fort Myers. Fla. to Chicago. She put on her best Gaga-inspired outfit and spent Wednesday night on Cloud 9. Lady Gaga played Amy’s all-time favorite song: “Bad Romance.”

“I was so happy I could even do it because I’ve had chronic pain and do a lot because of that,” she said. “Magically the pain was controlled! I've had eight brain surgeries and am wheelchair bound now so I'm just not as active as I was before. I was nervously excited and I think the adrenaline helped me get through it!”Amy will never forget the concert - or the love and kindness that got her inside the arena. 

Science of Kindness: Research—and my own experience—shows that when you love someone enough to make one of their dreams come true, you’ve reached the highest level of kindness. It’s not just thoughtful—it’s transformative. Neuroscience tells us that acts of kindness activate joy and connection in both giver and receiver. But beyond biology, it’s about being attuned to someone’s heart and choosing to act with love. That kind of kindness leaves a lasting imprint—and changes lives. #bekind #kindnessmatters #LadyGaga