Last Updated on July 7, 2018
February 17th was Random Acts of Kindness Day, but I thought I’d give you 10 simple suggestions that can help you take part on any day of the year.
Blame a book: Random Acts of Kindness Day was inspired by Random Kindness and Senseless Acts of Beauty, a children’s book published in 1993.
The premise of the day is simple: Be kind. Do something nice for someone in your life, whether it’s someone you know or a stranger. Pay it forward.
I went through this list of 101 ideas and found the 10 that struck me as the simplest ways to take part.
1. Give a compliment.
Sometimes just saying something nice to someone can make a huge difference, especially if you happen to deliver those kind words to someone who secretly is in serious need of some.
2. Send a card.
The art of sending hand-written cards is quickly disappearing in our electronic age. That makes receiving one that much more meaningful.
3. Pay for someone’s meal.
Either in the drive-thru (pay for the person behind you) or in a sit-down restaurant (tell a waitress you want to buy someone’s meal), pay up for a lunch or dinner. If that’s not a budget-friendly idea, do it at a coffee shop.
4. Hold open a door for someone.
Many of us do this every day. If you already do this, add a greeting to the mix: “How are you doing today?”  might just add a bit of pleasant surprise to someone’s afternoon.
5. Bring doughnuts to first responders.
We rely on them for so much in an emergency. Show them your appreciation.
6. Thank a serviceman.
When you see a someone in a military uniform, make it a point to thank them for their service. It’s something they should always hear, but unfortunately, they don’t.
7. Leave a bigger tip for a server.
Your tip doesn’t have to be 18 to 20% every time. If you get really good service, or if you see that your server is working against impossible odds to do the best he or she can, leave a bigger tip. A nice “thank you”  message on the receipt might just go a long way, too!
8. Donate old clothes.
Nearly everyone I know has some clothes they no longer need hanging in their closet. Do something for someone who needs them more than you do: donate.
9. Volunteer with a charity.
From a homeless shelter to an animal rescue, there are plenty of worthy charities in your area that could use a hand. I regularly volunteered with a dog rescue group when I lived in Virginia and it was a good feeling knowing we were finding good homes for four-legged friends.
10. Call up an old friend.
Social media can keep us connected but at the same time, it can disconnect us, too. There’s nothing like the sound of a friendly voice, and it’s a gift that goes both ways.
That’s my list of ten. Click the link above for more ideas!