What the world needs now…is more kindness! We recently celebrated Random Acts of Kindness Day on February 14, but let’s keep the kindness going all through the year. Random Acts of Kindness are ways to make connections with one another, make someone feel good, and help out our neighbors. Being kind not only boosts those around you but also leads to feelings of increased self-worth and reduces stress. Kindness also stimulates the production of serotonin, leading to feelings of calmness and happiness, and a hormone called oxytocin, providing several positive effects such as improved heart-health, lower blood pressure, and increased self-esteem.

According to the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation, the movement started in 1982 in California when Berkeley writer and activist Anne Herbert published “Practice Random Acts of Kindness and Acts of Senseless Beauty” in a CoEvolution Quarterly. After her article was published, the kindness movement spread to surrounding communities and eventually extended worldwide. 

But where to start? Here are 20 ideas to help you spread Random Acts of Kindness to the people you love and even to perfect strangers:

          1. Take someone's shopping cart to the cart bin.  

          2. Compliment someone.  

          3. Help your neighbor shovel the driveway after a snowstorm.

          4. Bake cookies for seniors.

          5. Leave money on a vending machine for someone.

          6. Serve meals at a homeless shelter.

          7. Leave a book in a little library or lend a book to a friend.

          8. Donate a book to your local public library.

          9. Let someone merge while in traffic.

         10. Do a 5k run for a good cause.

         11. Help at a veterinarian’s office.

         12. Pick up litter on the beach.

         13. Let someone go in front of you in line.

         14. Share an uplifting song or quote on social media.

         15. Make dinner for a family in need.

         16. Insert coins into someone’s parking meter. (Local ordinances may prohibit this.)

         17. Sign up to be an organ donor.

         18. Leave letters of encouragement on people’s cars.

         19. Text someone good morning or goodnight.

         20. Wave at the crossing guard or police detail.

To wake up each morning with a more optimistic mindset and set yourself up for performing acts of kindness each day, sign up for Nice News, a daily digest sent to your inbox each morning with only positive news stories. Or you can download the 2024 Kindness Calendar that provides a Random Act of Kindness that you can do each day of the year!

We appreciate you reading our blog. You can contact Raynor & D’Andrea Funeral Home at 1-800-737-0017. Or you can drop us a message here.