National Random Acts of Kindness Day

Today is National Random Acts of Kindness Day.

It is not a holiday, but rather a national day where the entire country is challenged to do something kind for a friend, family member, or stranger for no reason at all. Random Acts of Kindness Day is an opportunity to do something kind for someone else, to appreciate fellow citizens and for community building – it’s NOT about fundraising or giving money – just a day to celebrate kindness.

Simple acts of kindness are endless.  Check out last week's three articles labeled Little Acts of Kindness, parts one, two, and three.  For more ideas, check out The Kindness Wall at Random Acts of Kindness Foundation.

Kindness can mean different things to different people; usually kindness means:

• the quality or state of being kind.
• a kind act or kind deed.

I have a challenge posted on Facebook this week for Random Acts of Kindness Week.  If you participate by doing a random act of kindness -- big or small -- please post in the comments section here or at All Things Cherished on Facebook.  Everyone who competes will be entered into a drawing to receive a small gift from my "gift cupboard."

Various articles and posts on kindness:
Random Acts of Kindness Across America
Can We Teach Kindness?
RAK Week Lessons and Projects
Volunteerism... A Way of Life Resources
National Random Acts of Kindness Day


I hope you  join me this week in celebrating Random Acts of Kindness Week and start today by helping others.

Little Acts of Kindness - Part Three

Let's continue making others happy by giving of ourselves.

41. Introduce yourself to your neighbors.  You might make a new friend.
42. Compliment a stranger.
43. Adopt a pet from the pound.
44. Send a paper greeting card -- thinking of you, thanks, get well, etc, -- to a friend, family member, colleague, whomever.
45. Let the person behind you in line go first.
46. Call your parents and tell them you love them.
47. Make duplicates of your photos and send photos to the people who are in the images.
48. Take the shopping cart back to the front of the store.
49. Send a care package to a soldier.
50. Compliment a well-behaved child.
51. Bake a cake or cookies for no reason at all.
52. Leave nice comments on blogs, Twitter, and Facebook.
53. Be on time.  Don't make others wait on you.
54. Offer a ride to someone who is "car-less."
55. Donate your old clothes and other items to Goodwill, Salvation Army, or other charity.
56. Share your talents.  Offer to teach a class to your friends or at your local craft store.
58. Donate craft supplies and office supplies to your local elementary school, daycare, or preschool.
59. Become a mentor for Big Brothers Big Sisters or other similar agency.
60. Don't spread gossip.

I hope these sixty acts of kindness will give you some inspiration for today, for Random Acts of Kindness Week, and beyond.

Little Acts of Kindness - Part Two

21. Let a fellow driver merge into your lane.
22. Offer to babysit for a single mother or father.
23. Put your shopping cart back in its place.
24.  Write to a teacher who changed your life.
25. Tell a colleague they did a good job.
26. Simply say "I'm sorry" when you are wrong.
27. Throw away your trash and someone else's after a movie, picnic, etc.
28. Forgive someone a debt and never talk about it again.
29. Take care of a friend's pet while they vacationing.
30. Bake cookies or cake for the local police station or fire station.
31. Visit a senior citizen center and spend time with some of the residents.
32. Read a book to a preschool group at the local library.
33. Play football or other games with the kids in the neighborhood.
34. Ask someone "How are you really doing?" and then truly listen to her response.
35. Leave a generous tip for a pleasant waiter.
36. Help a friend pack for a move.
37. Pass along a great book you've just finished reading.
38. Have your children make/draw pictures and send to local nursing home.
39. Frame a favorite photo and give to your friend or sibling.
40. Call an "old" friend and take the time to catch up on all the family news.

This is a continuation of ideas for the upcoming Random Acts of Kindness Week.  

Little Acts of Kindness

One small thoughtful gesture can make someone else's day . . .
 
1.  Smile.  Smiles are contagious.
2.  Pick up the newspaper off the ground for an elderly neighbor.
3.  Pay the toll for the driver behind you.
4.  Take a moment to direct someone who is lost.
5.  Pay for coffee for the person behind you in line.
6.  Help carry groceries for the elderly, disabled, or pregnant person in line behind you.
7.  Write a letter to a child who could use some extra attention. Kids love getting mail.
8.  Offer to pick up groceries for an elderly neighbor. 
9.  Drive the car pool, even if its not your turn.
10. Give a homeless person your "doggie bag."
11. Take a neighbor's dog for a walk.
12. Put coins in an expired meter.
13. Help a mother carry her baby stroller up the stairs.
14. Hold the door open for people behind you.
15. Each time you get a new item of clothing, give away something old.
16. Drive a friend to church.
17. Send a card to a friend. Most people still like getting mail.
18. Say "please" and "thank you" and truly mean it.
19. When you're on a crowded train or bus, offer your seat to an elderly, disabled, or pregnant person.
20. Take your neighbor's mail to the post office.

The week of February 16, 2014, is Random Acts of Kindness Week.  Throughout the coming week, I'll be sharing many ideas that you can do to make things a little easier, a little nicer, a little happier for all of those people around us.