I had no idea it existed before today, but apparently it’s Random Acts of Kindness Day.
I think that it’s awesome that it’s so popular to just practice general love and goodwill that there’s a day for it!
It’s so easy to be overwhelmed by life that we feel we don’t really have much to offer, at least, I’ve struggled with that myself. It’s easy to look at ourselves and feel we fall short, or look at the world and feel overwhelmed at the scope of it’s problems and feel like there’s no way we could ever make a difference, but both of these feelings, while understandable, couldn’t be further from the truth.
We matter, and we can and do make a difference all the time. While it’d be great to be able to do big things for others like pay off their heating and electricity bills and the like, even a genuine smile can make a big difference to someone.
And while we’re talking about showing love and goodwill, let’s remember to start at home with ourselves. Too often it’s easier for us to give than receive. So cut yourself a break today! Treat yourself good, by thinking kindly of yourself and not cutting yourself down for not being perfect. Feed yourself well, nourish your spirit with some laughter or a breath of fresh air or a prayer. Tell yourself you’re ok, and mean it. God is within us, and we can’t love God and hate ourselves. Remember, the car that goes the distance starts with a tune up and a full tank of gas!
Here are some easy random kindnesses you can practice today and any day!:
- If you are an Aldi’s shopper like me, you keep your quarter in your car for your cart. Start keeping a few extra so you can leave your quarter in for that person who forgot theirs! Also if you have extra paper or plastic bags, offer them to those who don’t have any.
- Wipe up the water around the sink in a public bathroom!
- And another public bathroom one–flush the nasty toilet! You know the one, someone has had a terrible gastric emergency and for some reason, has not flushed. As long as it’s not clogged, go ahead and steel yourself and flush the darn thing! You can use all the hand sanitizer you need afterward, and those other ladies hopping on one foot waiting for the one or two working stalls will silently thank you.
- Leave a bigger tip than necessary , especially if the service wasn’t great. Sometimes a day ( or year!) just sucks, and getting a big break undeserved can soften even the grumpiest or troubled of hearts.
- Shovel a neighbor’s walkway/scrape an extra car.
- Take some yummy leftovers to a neighbor so they don’t go to waste. A neighbor and I do this for each other and it’s awesome! We’ve had all sorts of wonderful surprise treats, lunches and dinners that we do appreciate!
- If someone’s on your mind, call them and tell them you’re thinking of them!
- When you see someone with a feature or clothing you admire, tell them! An honest compliment from a stranger can make your day!
- If you get good service somewhere, make the time to call or tell the manager and thank them! It’s such a pick me up to know people appreciate your hard work!
- Return those overdue library books/movies! I have two blush-worthily late dvds from our library that I am returning today!
- Tell a parent they are doing a good job when you see a kid doing good. And tell the kid, too! A lady came up to us to compliment us on our 9 year old’s manners the other day and it really meant a lot to us–and when we told him he was so proud!
- Thank someone with a thankless job, like you or your kid’s bus driver, the garbage man, janitors, the lunch room monitors and lunch ladies at your kids school, construction workers ( you can give them a little wave!) etc.
- Smile at people, and mean it.
- Look for people you might normally be dismissive of, and open your heart to them. I think most of us without realizing it know there are some people that just make us uncomfortable, maybe they are dressed very shabbily, or are acting a little strangely to our thinking, etc, and we close ourselves off. Challenge yourself to shift that attitude. Even if you are just holding the door for them, or smiling, you’re showing them good will and an open heart, and that’s a great thing.
- Forgive someone who’s wronged you. You don’t have to have a complete spiritual overhaul to start the process of forgiveness. Just saying it to yourself is a start; where our thinking goes, our heart follows.
- Slip someone a note that they are loved. You can tuck it in a purse, under a door, in a coat pocket, etc.
- If you see someone’s trashcan has been blown over by the wind into the street or sidewalk, pull over ( safely) and bring it back to the yard.
- Pray for a stranger. There are many sites where people post prayer requests.
Love depends on us to put it into action, but the amazing thing is that since Love is the most powerful force in the universe, the smallest action taken towards it often snowballs into something awesome that can touch an amazing amount of people. All it takes is an one act of kindness or humility to change someone’s day, and when they are affected, they spread the love to everyone they encounter, and so on. You never know when one gesture of kindness might make all the difference.
“Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”
Hebrews 13:2
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. “
Maya Angelou
Be kind to unkind people – they need it most!
Ashleigh Brilliant
Teach this triple truth to all: A generous heart, kind speech, and a life of service and compassion are the things which renew humanity.
The Buddha
Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.
Leo Buscaglia
No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another.
Charles Dickens















































