Random Acts of Kindness Day – February 17th

The best way to find yourself, is to lose yourself in the service of others.
- Gandhi

We all struggle. We all have stress. Schedules are full. Yet, thankfully, despite hectic lives, we also all care.

As a matter of fact, we can’t help but care! It’s part of the human condition. You can’t have ‘humankind’ without ‘kind’, after all.

The problem is that, when we get wrapped up in our own problems, we forget to take care of others. Our brains go into self-preservation mode. Don’t get it wrong, taking care of yourself is important: you can’t take care of others without also taking care of yourself. We just need to remember to look beyond ourselves, and see the need in others as well as ourselves. It can sometimes be hard, but it’s immediately, obviously worthwhile... because it only takes one kind act to powerfully affect us. You know the sort of acts we’re talking about. It’s the person enthusiastically praising their co-worker’s hard work, or the waiter covering a bill for struggling parents, or the window cleaner dressing up as a superhero at the Children’s Hospital.

They’re the little moments that have a big impact – and stay with you. That connect you back to your humanity, remind you how much love and care there is in the world, and feel so good that they inspire you to spread kindness yourself.

We know how important kindness is because we’ve all felt its importance. But that’s not the only reason we know. Scientific studies have shown that random acts of kindness are good for you! They improve your life satisfaction by increasing your sense of belonging and self-worth, and they improve your health by decreasing your anxiety, depression and blood pressure. And here’s the best part: these benefits apply to the giver of kindness, the recipient of kindness, and anyone who witnesses the act! Every act improves the lives of at least three people.

So, why kindness? Medically? Because it’s good for your health. Economically? Because it’s free. Practically? Because it’s easy. Socially? Because it improves the world.

But the real reason, of course... is that kindness is the key to lasting happiness.

Random Acts of Kindness Day Ideas

Random Acts of Kindness Day is February 17^th. Below are some of the things and you can perform on Random Acts of Kindness Day:

• Pay it forward: buy coffee for the person behind you in line.
• Genuinely compliment the first three people you talk to today.
• Send a positive text message to five different people right now.
• Post inspirational sticky notes around your neighborhood, office, school, etc. 
• Donate old towels or blankets to an animal shelter.
• Say hi to the person next to you on the elevator.
• Surprise a neighbor with freshly baked cookies or treats!
• Let someone go in front of you in line who only has a few items.
• Leave a gas gift card at a gas pump.
• Throw a party to celebrate someone just for being who they are, which is awesome
• Have a LinkedIn account? Write a recommendation for coworker or connection.
• Leave quarters at the laundromat.
• Encounter someone in customer service who is especially kind? Take an extra five minutes to tell
• their manager.
• Leave unused coupons next to corresponding products in the grocery store.
• Try to make sure every person in a group conversation feels included.
• Write a kind message on your mirror with a dry erase marker for yourself, your significant other or a family member.
• Place a positive body image notes in jean pockets at a department store.
• Smile at five strangers.
• Set an alarm on your phone to go off at three different times during the day. In those moments, do something kind for someone else.
• Send a gratitude email to a coworker who deserves more recognition.
• Practice self-kindness and spend 30 minutes doing something you love today.
• Write a gratitude list in the morning and again in the evening.
• Know parents who could use a night out? Offer to babysit for free.
• Return shopping carts for people at the grocery store.
• Write a positive comment on your favorite blog, website, or a friend’s social media account.
• Have a clean-up party at a beach or park.
• While you’re out, compliment a parent on how well-behaved their child is.
• Leave a kind server the biggest tip you can afford.
• When you’re throwing something away on the street, pick up any litter around you and put that in the trash too.
• Pay the toll for the person behind you.
• Everyone is important. Learn the names of your office security guard, the person at the front desk and other people you see every day. Greet them by name. Also say “hello” to strangers and smile. These acts of kindness are so easy, and they almost always make people smile.
• Write your partner a list of things you love about them.
• Purchase extra dog or cat food and bring it to an animal shelter.
• Find opportunities to give compliments. It costs nothing, takes no time, and could make someone’s entire day. Don’t just think it. Say it.
• Take flowers or treats to the nurses’ station at your nearest hospital.
• Keep an extra umbrella at work, so you can lend it out when it rains.
• Run an errand for a family member who is busy.
• Leave a box of goodies in your mailbox for your mail carrier.
• Tape coins around a playground for kids to find.
• Put your phone away while in the company of others.
• Email or write to a former teacher who made a difference in your life.
• When you hear that discouraging voice in your head, tell yourself something positive — you deserve kindness too!

Contact the Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley for more information about connecting with opportunities to volunteer in the community at (319) 272-2087, information@vccv.org, or visit www.vccv.org.