Random Acts of Kindness

I’m participating in Kelly’s Corner’s Show Us Your Life for sharing Random Acts of Kindness.

Sometimes it’s the smallest gestures in life that make the biggest difference. Taking the time to do something unexpected and kind for another person in a time of need without expecting something in return is one of life’s greatest pleasures. The reaction of gratitude and surprise is reward in itself.

Here are a few ideas for random acts of kindness:

1. A simple smile can have a huge impact
2. Letting someone out in traffic ahead of you, even if you are in a hurry yourself.
3. Delivering cookies to a new neighbor and welcoming them to the neighborhood
4. Delivering a meal to someone who just had a new baby, is recovering from surgery or going through a difficult time in their life
5. Setting up an online meal calendar for someone who is in need of meals for health or personal reasons. Not having to cook allows them to heal and focus on their family.
6. Delivering flowers or a pretty plant to a neighbor or friend who lives alone on Valentine’s Day or Easter.
7. Making extra cookies at Christmas time or any time and delivering them to the teacher’s lounge at your child’s school.
8. Giving extra coupons to someone behind you in line at the checkout.
9. Paying someone a compliment, especially when it looks like they are having a really bad day.
10. When someone is going through a difficult time, instead of asking what you can do to help, think of something and just do it!
11. Taking the time to tell those people who’ve made a big impact in your life how much you appreciate them and all they do.
12. Offer to walk a neighbor’s dog if they are unable to.
13. When walking through the neighborhood or on the beach, pick up trash as you go along and place it in the trash can.
14. Pay a parking meter that is about to expire.
15. Leave an extra nice tip for a waiter or waitress who could really use a break.
16. Return lost pets to their owners.
17. Send in an extra snack with your child to share with another child who forgot theirs.
18. Buy extra items at the grocery store during BOGOs and donate to charity.
19. Lend a neighbor a hand who needs help with yard work.
20. Offer to watch a friend’s children while she runs out for a doctor’s appointment or errands.
21. Return shopping carts to the cart coral.
22. Tell a soldier, thank you.
23. Offer to clean someone’s house if they are suffering from health problems and are unable to do it themselves.
24. Hold doors for people.
25. Seize the moment and do something kind rather than walk away and regret not helping later.

I know we are all busy, but taking just a moment of your time to do something nice for someone else just might be the most important thing you do that day.

Please feel free to comment and share your ideas for your Random Acts of Kindness. I would love to hear from you!