The Forgotten Ones & The Science of Anonymous Kindness

Why unseen love just might heal the world (and you).

Jul 13, 2025

Why unseen love just might heal the world (and you).

In a world where everyone seems to be broadcasting their wins and best selves on Instagram, it’s easy to believe we’re all meant to be living lives of exceptional wealth and fulfillment.

We are, after all, in the midst of the greatest wealth transfer in history. Since 2020, many have felt rich—on paper—with booming real estate, bloated 401(k)s, and overnight crypto fortunes. All while the world scrolls endlessly, hypnotized by breaking headlines and dopamine-driven content cycles.

But beneath all of that?
People are being forgotten.

I was reminded of this again just the other morning at 4:00 AM, walking through the airport in that liminal space between yesterday and tomorrow. I noticed the janitorial staff sweeping floors, wiping down surfaces. Quiet. Invisible to most.

I don’t know their stories. But I know this: in a world that values visibility and spectacle, there are whole swaths of humanity who feel unseen.

The migrants
The aging
The grieving
Those who have no one

And so I do this simple practice that means everything to me—especially when I travel.

I look with love.
And I offer a silent prayer:
“God, please bless this person. Guide them. May they feel Your love.”

💔 The Forgotten Ones Within Us

Something remarkable happens when we begin to see the forgotten ones "out there": we start to remember the forgotten parts within ourselves.

The parts that feel rejected, isolated, or alone.
The tired parts. The fearful parts. The quiet ache we hide behind performance and perfectionism.

As we open our eyes with love, we reconnect.
To them.
To ourselves.
To God.

We remember that we’re all deeply interdependent. That life is heartbreakingly short. And that the only real thing that lasts is how we show up in love.

🔬 But What Does Science Say?

It turns out, the practice of anonymous kindness—of loving without being seen—isn’t just spiritually powerful. It’s biologically transformative.

Here’s what research reveals:

🧠 1. Kindness Boosts Mental Health

A 2022 Ohio State University study compared people doing acts of kindness with those using CBT and journaling.
Those practicing kindness showed greater reductions in depression and anxiety and felt more connected to others—even when the acts were anonymous.

Kindness can outperform traditional therapy in healing social isolation and emotional pain.

🩺 2. Kindness Heals the Body

Kindness releases oxytocin, which:

Lowers blood pressure
Reduces stress hormones
Boosts immune function

This is part of what’s known as the “helper’s high.” It’s real. It's measurable. And it means that loving others quietly also heals your own nervous system.

💞 3. Kindness is Contagious

When someone receives a generous act—especially unexpected—they are:

3x more likely to pay it forward
More likely to experience gratitude, self-worth, and trust

This has been observed in everything from public donation studies to neuroscience labs.

🧘‍♂️ 4. Anonymous Giving Increases Well-Being

Psychologists call it “warm-glow giving.”
It’s the unique satisfaction we feel when giving with no strings attached. No recognition. No audience.

Studies show that this kind of giving:

Enhances life satisfaction
Increases long-term happiness
Reduces symptoms of burnout and fatigue

Loving just because actually rewires the brain toward joy.

🌱 So Why Does This Matter?

Because the world is tired.

Tired of being seen only for what we produce.
Tired of pretending.
Tired of numbing our pain with screens and spectacle.

But love—the real kind, quiet and unseen—hasn’t gone anywhere.
It’s as close as a breath. As small as a whisper. As powerful as a prayer.

“Keep an eye out for the forgotten ones. You never know how powerful one quiet act of love can be.”
— Matt Lyon

❤️ Final Word: Love Heals

Every great spiritual tradition tells us the same thing science is now confirming:

Love heals.

Not just the recipient.
The giver, too.

Not just the loud, visible kind of love.
But the kind that walks past a stranger and whispers a blessing.
The kind that picks up the phone just to say, “I’m thinking of you.”
The kind that sees a janitor at 4 AM and silently says, “You matter.”

We don’t need to wait for a platform to do good.
We just need to look up.

Let’s become the quiet revolution.
One unseen act of love at a time.

With reverence,
—Matt