One Life to Live: Positive Lifestyle: Random Acts of Kindness

Random Acts of Kindness

Looking to make a change in your life, fill a void, try something different, or simply help others? 2013 is a brand new year; make it a point to make a difference in someone’s life or in the world. Yes, it is extremely important to perform good deeds and help others on a daily basis. It not only builds inner happiness and peace but it also puts life in perspective and gives life purpose. Life is about being able to help others, especially those who are unable to ever repay you. Sharing your mind, strength, talents, skills, money, materials, love, time and much more is a crucial part of life. A friend of mine decided to do 28 random acts of kindness for her 28^th birthday this year. She documented and photographed each act and shared her experience on Facebook. Her deeds were very diverse with many that I would never have thought of. She made it a point to touch the lives of those who often are forgotten. These include people like the overnight staffs at hospitals, local employees working minimum wage, fire fighters, the elderly, random neighbors having financial difficulties, single working moms, low income schools, local boys and girls clubs, women’s shelters, etc. With my 25^th birthday passing the on January 26th, I was inspired to do something along the same lines. I have decided to dedicate the entire month of February to executing random acts of kindness. These will consist of the usual opening of doors for people, helping someone with their groceries, giving spare change to a homeless person, etc. but, I wanted to incorporate new and unique deeds that I wouldn't usually be put in certain situations to do them. I did some research on different types of random acts of kindness and I came across a myriad of interesting ones from a variety of websites. This adventure will be so much fun and I am elated to get started! My goal is to inspire others to do more random acts of kindness just like my friend did for me J

Here are examples of some random acts of kindness that I have thought of and that I found online:

· Give homemade cards to those who have made a positive impact on your life
· Give a friend a thoughtful gift for no reason
· Pay someone’s lay-away or a bill for the month
· Create someone for someone who you think I might put a smile on the face of
· Write notes on little pieces of paper that are full of positive, inspirational and motivational quotes, then pass them out to random people you meet throughout the day
· Give out hot chocolate to people working outside in the cold (such as crossing guards, construction workers, etc.) or to homeless people
· Find out if anyone knows of a family or person in need of specific items due to financial troubles, natural disasters, or other unfortunate incidents such as a clothing for a girl or boy your age, health care products (toothpaste, soap, shampoo, deodorant, etc), food, blankets, shoes, professional clothing to someone less fortunate who is trying to get a job, toys and books to a family with kids, or anything else that someone may need.
· Offer to babysit, cook dinner, clean, etc. for a single parent who is busy with work and may need help
· Visit your local elderly or nursing home and spend some time with the people there. This will brighten their day.
· Bake treats or take a hot meal to the overnight staff at your local hospital, fire fighter house, police station, bus drivers, store employees, 24 hour grocery stores, any others.
· Pay the bus fare for the person behind you
· Pay for someone’s groceries at the grocery store
· Take a bag of groceries to an elderly person or family in need in your neighborhood
· Take books, art supplies and learning materials to a children’s play room at a hospital and/or a school in your area that can’t afford enough supplies for its students
· Supply a child with school supplies for their new school year
· Offer to clean and organize someone’s house who may be too busy to do so themselves
· Pass out winter gear (hats, scarves, gloves, socks, ear muffs, etc) to the homeless during wintertime
· Offer to take a friend who is having a tough time to lunch or for coffee, let them vent their feelings until they feel better
· Send flowers anonymously to someone who may be in need of a smile
· Pay for other’s laundry fee by putting a cup of quarters in your laundry room at your apartment building with a note that says for others to help themselves.
· Volunteer a few hours at a non-profit organization event or headquarters, boys and girls club, YMCA, or at a local resale shop where proceeds go to a hospital or another good cause
· Pass out treats or cards to mailmen in your neighborhood
· Tape dollar bills in random places throughout the day for others to find
· Leave pennies around throughout the day for others to find and have good luck
· Pay for someone’s gas at the gas station
· Help someone pay a medical bill
· Pass out valentine’s day cards at the hospital or elderly home
· Pick up trash in your neighborhood
· Leave extra coupons at the grocery store register for the next person to use
· Help someone search for a job and help them apply
· Bake or buy dog/cat treats and take them to an animal shelter
· Drop off flowers at a hospital and ask a nurse to give them to someone who usually doesn’t get many visitors or gifts
· Drop off teddy bears at the police station for traumatized children
· Donate books or magazines to hospitals, libraries, clinics, etc.
· Use your talent to brighten someone’s day at an elderly home, hospital, rehab center, shelter, etc. (such as singing, painting, drawing, comedy, dance, cooking, reading, teaching)
· Help someone with broken English learn to speak English better
· Find charity events to volunteer for during the holidays such as serving food for Thanksgiving at shelters, help collect food at food pantries, help to collect toys/clothes for Christmas….
· Help someone who’s car is broken down
· Help someone with yard work or shoveling snow
· Donate blood
· Spend some time playing with animals at a shelter
· Be a courteous driver all day long
· Talk to a co-worker or someone who you doesn’t seem to have many friends
· Share a funny joke with someone to make them smile
· Give people compliments all day
· Have fun and think of creative ways to raise money for a charity
· Go to a local charity event, such as a run/walk or marathon, and cheer participates on and hand out water.
· Adopt an animal from a shelter

Here are a few links to websites that are full of other random acts of kindness ideas:

http://www.randomactsofkindness.org/kindness-ideas?page=1

http://www.daretobeanangel.com/tasklist.php

http://www.karmacooler.com/2009/02/100-ideas-for-kindness/

Remember, it’s the small things that matter and can make a difference in someone’s life. It doesn’t matter how many deeds you do or what you do, it’s just a matter of doing it J Hopefully you can inspire others to do the same!

“Those who make compassion an essential part of their lives find the joy of life. Kindness deepens the spirit and produces rewards that cannot be completely explained in words. It is an experience more powerful than words. To become acquainted with kindness one must be prepared to learn new things and feel new feelings. Kindness is more than a philosophy of the mind. It is a philosophy of the spirit.”

-Robert J. Furey (Author)

“The true essence of humankind is kindness. There are other qualities which come from education or knowledge, but it is essential, if one wishes to be a genuine human being and impart satisfying meaning to one's existence, to have a good heart.

-Tenzin Gyatso /The 14th Dalai Lama

“No act of kindness is too small. The gift of kindness may start as a small ripple that over time can turn into a tidal wave affecting the lives of many.”

-Kevin Heath (Ceo More4kids)

“In life you can never be too kind or too fair; everyone you meet is carrying a heavy load. When you go through your day expressing kindness and courtesy to all you meet, you leave behind a feeling of warmth and good cheer, and you help alleviate the burdens everyone is struggling with.”

-Brian Tracy (Motivational Author)

“Your greatness is measured by your kindness; your education and intellect by your modesty; your ignorance is betrayed by your suspicions and prejudices, and your real caliber is measured by the consideration and tolerance you have for others.”

-William J.H. Boetcker (Religious Leader, Influential Public Speaker)

“To be rich in admiration and free from envy, to rejoice greatly in the good of others, to love with such generosity of heart that your love is still a dear possession in absence or unkindness - these are the gifts which money cannot buy.”