February 13-19 is Random Acts of Kindness Week an observances having to do with inspiring people to do kind things for one another.

Because being kind is important, in honor of Random Acts of Kindness Week, we wanted to share with you some simple ways we all can add more kindness into our everyday lives. We also wanted to deliver this important message: one small act of kindness can blossom into something bigger.  

Kindness can bring joy and add purpose and meaning to our lives; this goes for both the giver and receiver. A gesture as simple as saying hello or holding open a door can make a difference in a person’s day.

Some people’s worries are outwardly visible, but more often than not, we don’t know the type of day a person’s had or the problems they are shouldering. For a person who has had a really bad day, week, or even year, a kind gesture may go a long way. Sometimes something seemingly insignificant does have the power to start a chain reaction of moving things in a positive direction.

Being kind costs us little, it is essentially risk-free, and in all likelihood it has the potential to make someone’s day, week, or even year.

Of course most of us want to be kind and believe ourselves to be kind. The act of holding the door open or smiling at a stranger is already ingrained in many of us. If you feel you are already kind, there may be ways you can be even more kind.

While out running errands, maybe instead of avoiding eye contact, you could smile a little more. Maybe you could ask the checkout clerk how their day is going. Or perhaps compliment a fellow grocery shopper or churchgoer on her purse, sweater, or glasses.

Being nice feels good and it is also good for our health. Remember the last time you did something nice for someone and how good it felt? What you were probably experiencing was a “helper’s high” of sorts, where your brain released feel good-chemicals in response to your good deed. Consequently, your mood was boosted and your stress level lowered.

While people don’t set out to be kind in order to improve their health, it’s certainly nice to know that it can be a by-product.

Here are some simple ways you can spread kindness in your life:

-Offer to let someone go before you in line at the checkout if they only have a few items and you have a full cart.

-Compliment someone’s purse, beard, jacket, shoes, glasses, etc.

-Buy someone a special treat, such as flowers, chocolate, a trinket, etc.—just because.

-Leave your waitress/waiter a really good tip.

-Make an effort not to argue or judge.

-Leave a treat for the person delivering a package or mail to your house.

-Smile or say hello.

-Grow vegetables or herbs and give them away.

-Hold the door open for someone.

-Offer to return someone’s cart to the corral.

-Call or write a letter to someone you’ve lost touch with.

-Pick up items to donate to an animal rescue or homeless shelter.

-Paint rocks with bright designs or inspirational messages and place them around a park for people to find.

-Forgive a grudge.

-Offer a smile and words of encouragement to a mom who’s struggling with a tantruming child.

-Help someone who has their hands full or has dropped something, like their change.

-Pay for someone’s groceries.

-Pick up litter, even if it’s not yours.

-Put together homeless kits to have on hand the next time you see someone in need (you can find more info on homeless care kits here).

-Let someone into your lane when driving.

-Visit someone you know who’s homebound or in a care center.

-Pay for someone’s gas.

For more ideas and inspiration, you can visit the Random Acts of Kindness website here.

It’s said that “What goes around comes around.” Isn’t this especially true with kindness? If you are kind to others, they are more likely to be kind to others in turn. There’s also karma and its premise: if you do the right thing, you will be rewarded for it. If we are kind to others, then maybe others will be kind to us.

It’s simple to be kind if we set our mind to it. Doing something nice for someone else can make their day and yours too.

We’ll leave you with some parting quotes about kindness:

“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” - Aesop

“Sometimes it takes only one act of kindness and caring to change a person’s life.” -Jackie Chan.

“Kindness gives birth to kindness.” -Sophocles

“Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see."  -Mark Twain

“Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.” -The 14th Dalai Lama

Thanks for reading our blog! We like when people reach out to us with their questions. If you ever have any, you can call us, Raynor & D’ Andrea Funeral Home, at 800-737-0017.