National Random Acts of Kindness Day!

I’m so excited! In the past few weeks of my blog, I think I have used kindness as a topic! Today, February 17, 2021, we get to celebrate RANDOM ACTS of Kindness…all day!!!

One thing about random acts of kindness, I don’t get excited about doing them and then telling others about them. However, I often find myself sharing the act, especially when there is a good (or bad) response to it. I prefer the idea of being quietly anonymous about my random acts. However, in order to better explain how the simple things can make a difference, I may mention a couple of things…not bragging!!

They say that no act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted. I feel certain that you have probably done something today or yesterday that would qualify! The sad part is we have come to confuse common courtesy with a random act of kindness…holding the door for someone, letting a car go ahead of us in traffic, and on and on. Don’t give up on these little things and they are indeed acts of kindness.

Random acts come when we least expect it…maybe the car in front of you pays for your meal at the drive thru of McDonalds. Or maybe you pre-pay for some coffees for less fortunate people, providing a free cup of coffee for a stranger. In this craziness, maybe you shoveled your neighbors’ driveway. Cookies on your doorstep? Any number of these things can be considered random acts to you or someone else. There are many more, probably much more kind, but these little things can and will make a difference.

In the past week, I have reached out to a couple of people, randomly, and have had such positive responses, I can’t wait to do it again. Today, I went for a pedicure (yes, in the snow and yes, I work flip-flops afterwards!) and I asked my nail tech to fix my thumb polish as it had started to peel. Not only did she fix that nail but she did a whole other top coat to give me a nice shine! Her gift to me…and she did it naturally, without a second thought…she is young and probably didn’t even know it was random act of kindness day!

The funny thing about spreading kindness is that it comes back to you tenfold. I know I have felt so good when I have done something kind, I almost feel guilty for making it about me. Perhaps one of the best parts about random acts is they can be free and yet just as special.

We all know someone who is going through a difficult time, be it illness of a family member or themselves, death, divorce, etc… We never really know what others are going through and how a simple act could be life changing.

Maybe pick up the phone and call a friend you haven’t spoken with for a while or drop a “thinking of you” note card in the mail.

Today is Ash Wednesday, and the beginning of Lent. As I mentioned last week, I prefer to do something positive rather than “give up something.” So today, it begins! For my own benefit, I’m going to jot down what I have done as my “act of kindness” each day. I won’t dwell on it but I will make sure that I do something kind each day. (not just today because of the calendar day!)

Imagine what my notebook will look like with 40 “random” acts of kindness listed! One thing I know for sure, this habit can change me! I hope you will find a way to do the same! Love you!