We’ve all heard about random acts of kindness. Sometimes all it takes is a simple smile to turn someone’s day around. One act of kindness can set someone on a completely new path in life. They don’t have to cost much or anything really. Best of all, an act of kindness benefits the giver, the receiver, and anyone who witnesses the act. There is a ripple effect that continues on and on.
25 ideas to add more acts of kindness to your daily life.
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Reach out to an old friend. We all live busy lives these days and it is easy to lose touch. These days there are so many ways to reach out. Texting, Facebook messages, tweeting are all options for some of you. Don’t forget the old-fashioned methods like writing a note and picking up the phone (to talk!). Another option is dropping by and see someone in person.
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Sit with someone who is sitting alone. Maybe you’re at school or church or even on the bus. Introduce yourself. Smile. You never know when someone is looking for a friendly face or even a new friend.
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Have you thanked your parents lately? Think of all they have done for you. Do they know how much you appreciate them? Make sure they know you are thankful for their love and support.
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Invite someone to share a holiday. My husband and I both grew up in small families. We often had guests for holiday meals that didn’t have family close by. The more the merrier when sitting around a big Thanksgiving feast or Christmas dinner. Your guests may even bring a dish to share that you’ve never had before. It could be the start of a new family tradition.
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Bake something and take it to someone. I often find that my thoughts are turned to certain people. I once read a story where the mother made three pies each week. One was for her family and the other two were for someone else. She would think all week on who needed a pie and deliver it, with her kids, on Sunday afternoon. I hate baking pies, but I am pretty good at muffins and quick breads. Pick something you enjoy making and share it.
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Start saving for a charity. Many of us are good at saving for ourselves…the dream vacation, gifts, a new pair of boots, but what if we saved a little each week to donate to a good cause? We could start by putting our extra change in a jar and adding to it regularly. It wouldn’t take much and by the end of a year, the donation dollars would have added up.
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Share a hobby or skill for free. Are you an amateur photographer? Can you sew? Do you know how to set up a blog or webpage? Do you knit or crochet? Are you fabulous at editing papers? You know how to do something that someone doesn’t. Share you skill and make someone’s day.
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Make dinner for someone. When each of my children were born, many people brought dinner to our family. Neighbors, church friends, family members. Sure, my husband and I could probably have gotten dinner on the table, but it sure made us feel loved when someone showed up with a quick meal.
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Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Use a reusable water bottle and keep the plastic ones out of our landfills. Clean out your closets and donate clothes to Goodwill or some other charity organization. Carry reusable shopping bags with you so we don’t waste trees or add to pollution. Get off mailing lists so you get less junk mail. (Here’s a link on how to do that http://www.sustainablebabysteps.com/stop-receiving-junk-mail.html ) Buy used or swap with friends. There are lots of great communities online for that sort of thing.
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Clean up something in your city. You can contact city hall and see what opportunities there are in your town. I have cleaned up old cemeteries, painted curbs, helped with landscaping, picked up trash, and many other things. Every community has needs. Find yours.
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Give thanks. Thank a firefighter, a police officer, a veteran, a teacher. There are so many people who work tirelessly for the good of others. Often they do it with little pay and less recognition. Leave a note, bake some cookies, send a care package…whatever works for you. Remember to give thanks whenever you can.
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Spread sunshine online. There are so many people who think that because they can post anonymously, they can be mean and hateful. Counter act this by leaving kind and thoughtful comments whenever and where ever you can.
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Be kind to yourself. It doesn’t take a lot of money. You don’t have to splurge on a new pair of shoes or eat out all the time. Give yourself a break when you need one. Remember that no one is perfect. I have a friend that eats a bite of chocolate as her daily luxury. A bubble bath once a week might be nice. Being truly kind to yourself helps you be kind to others.
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Donate blood. The Red Cross is always in need of donors. Check out their website to find out how and when. http://www.redcrossblood.org/
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Leave a note or a treat in the mailbox for your mail person. I have the best mailman. The whole neighborhood calls him Mailman Bob. He is the friendliest guy and when he’s on vacation, his route is just not the same. Mail carriers are not allowed to accept gifts worth more than $20. So just a little something to says thanks would do.
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Let someone go in front of you. Does the lady behind you at the grocery store have two items and you have a full cart? It the highway crowded and people are trying to change lanes with no success? Waiting in line or in traffic can make people grumpy and rude, but smile and waving them in front of you can change their attitude and make everyone’s day happier.
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Don’t give in to gossip. If you hear something about someone else, don’t pass it on. Let it stop with you. If you hear someone say something mean or critical about someone, mention that person’s strengths and good qualities.
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Be punctual. When you are always running late, you are telling people that your time is more important than theirs is. Don’t leave your friends, family and coworkers hanging. Be on time. It’s the considerate and kind thing to do.
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Wipe down the equipment at the gym after you’re done with it. This is not just kind, it’s clean. No one wants to sit in your sweat and no one wants to clean up your sweat either.
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Bring in your neighbor’s trash cans. There used to be three teenage boys living next door. They regularly brought in my trash cans. I really miss those boys. You could also rake their leaves and shovel the snow off their walk.
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Be a good sport. I have three kids and have sat through a lot of games, meets, and tournaments. Parents who jeer and scream are no fun. You can support your team and still stay positive. You can even cheer for your opponents when they do something remarkable.
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Give people the benefit of the doubt. You’d want someone to do the same for you, right?
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Ask someone about their holiday traditions. Maybe you celebrate Christmas and your neighbor celebrates Hanukkah. Show an interested in what they do. It is fun to learn new things. I had a conversation with some neighbors about how they celebrate the Islamic New Year. It made me want to know more…and eat! Sharing traditions helps build our communities and encourages kindness.
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Take up a collection. At school or at work, or at church you can start up a collection to donate. Perhaps the local homeless shelter needs coats or blankets. Maybe there is a book program that needs donations. See if the local food bank needs canned goods. Most of these programs run on a very tight budget. Whatever group you belong to can pull it’s resources and share.
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Be generous with compliments. I don’t mean kiss up to someone. I mean when you have something nice to say, say it. Don’t hold back. Get into the habit and you might find that the compliments come easier each time.
When you’re ready to share some acts of kindness, I hope this list will help you. Please share it with your friends and we can all spread kindness to others.
