Acts of Kindness

Today is Random Acts of Kindness Day, a national holiday started nearly 30 years ago to recognize and encourage expressions of kindness towards others. Scientific research backs up the value of kindness to both the person spreading it and the recipient, with an article from the fall of 2022 illustrating how meaningful randoms acts of kindness can be, and that people “tend to underestimate how much the recipient will appreciate it.”

Not knowing one’s positive impact can stand in the way of people engaging in these sorts of acts of kindness in daily life.

New York Times, The Unexpected Power of Random Acts of Kindness

Organizations like the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation share ideas about how to spread their “mission of making kindness the norm.” And inspiring smaller scale initiatives, like ‘Spreading Good Juju,’ designates a day in November in memory of a dear friend who was always performing small kindnesses for others.

It’s the small things in life that can make a big difference.

Mental Health Foundation

In honor of Random Acts of Kindness Day, we’d like to share some of our favorite, simple ways to spread kindness:  

1. Pay it forward. Being generous with a stranger, or doing a good deed for someone, puts kindness out there and often inspires others. Try noticing the people around you the next time you’re in the grocery line or waiting to buy a coffee. Does someone look to be in a rush or to need a boost? I’ll never forget the time years ago as I was on my way to a stressful job as a healthcare administrator, a stranger picked up the tab for me and my preschoolers in the Starbucks drive through line. Perhaps the driver in front of me saw me struggling that morning to balance being a good mom and capable professional. That act of kindness immediately brightened my day and inspired me to hand over my card, asking the barista to please pay for the driver behind me.  
2. Greet someone. As life’s responsibilities often have us rushing from place to place, we need to intentionally stop more often and connect with the people around us. Next time you’re picking up a coffee or checking out at the grocery store, trying making eye contact with the barista or clerk, and say hello. Ask them how their day is going and wish them well. They’ll likely return the greeting and you’ll both get a boost.
3. Donate something. Giving away something you no longer use or need is a simple act of kindness to the environment by allowing something once useful to be reused. For the recipient, it may be just the treasure they needed. Goodwill donation sites are in many communities, and many churches and schools regularly hold drives, if you prefer to support a local community organization.
4. Wait for someone. Now that I’m back in an office each day, I often think about the day ahead as I walk quickly across the parking lot and into the building. But slowing down to wait and hold the door for someone can offer a potential moment of connection. Early in my career, I worked in downtown Chicago, and often commuted by bus. One winter evening my new workmate, Anna, had expressed an interest in taking the bus home, something she needed help navigating as she was not only new to her job, but also to Chicago. When we got to the bus stop, a few buses arrived at the same time, including the one I regularly took. I made eye contact with that driver and gave a wave as he pulled out behind the bus I was helping Anna onto. When her bus departed, I was shocked to see my bus idling and waiting for me, with an open door and smiling driver. As I boarded, he said he could see me helping my colleague and he figured that waiting another 30 seconds for me wasn’t going to hurt anyone. What he didn’t know is how much it meant to me and continues to inspire me to make time for others who could also benefit from a bit of patience.
5. Find your own way to share. Three years ago this month, Sara and I launched this blog, which has become our way to celebrate friendships, encourage connections and share ideas to help make our fractious world a little kinder.