spread love through random acts of kindness

This is a repost from February 2020.

One afternoon in 1982, Anne Herbert wrote the message, “Practice random acts of kindness and senseless acts of beauty” on a placemat. It is believed this was the start of the “Random Acts of Kindness” movement. Then in 1993, the book, Random Acts of Kindness, was published. It was full of true stories of thoughtfulness, motivational quotations and inspiration. This created even more momentum and here we are today. Everyone from celebrities to children practice random acts of kindness on a daily basis.

Anyone can participate. It doesn’t have to cost anything or take much time to brighten someone’s day. The simplest action or comment can make the most significant impact. Below are 30 random acts of kindness that you can practice today or any day. The more you do, the more reward you will receive. It feels good to make a stranger smile or surprise a friend with one small act.

30 Random Acts of Kindness To Do Today:

1. Let someone go ahead of you in line
2. Give a stranger a compliment
3. Bring donuts to your advisory
4. Introduce a new student to your friends
5. Return someone’s lost item that you found
6. Donate an hour or two to your favorite charity
7. Set the dinner table before you are asked
8. Give someone a gift card that you won’t use
9. Help the janitors – pick up papers off the floor around school
10. Offer to give someone a ride
11. Make your brother or sister’s bed
12. Write a thank you note to your waiter on your receipt
13. Smile and say “Have a nice day” to a stranger
14. Give a random hug
15. Drop off cookies at a friend’s house
16. Send a get-well text to a sick classmate
17. Write down what you appreciate about a family member and give it to them
18. Clean your room without being asked
19. Call your grandparents
20. Pick up fallen branches around neighborhood
21. Let your sibling have the front seat
22. Say “good job” to someone who impressed you
23. After paying for your Slurpee, leave your change on the counter for someone who might need it
24. Tell your parents you love them
25. Thank your teacher
26. Do a favor without asking for anything in return
27. Take a picture of a group of people so the photographer isn’t being left out
28. Share your snack with your friends
29. Loan a pencil in math class
30. Sit with a classmate if they are eating alone

What random act of kindness will you do today?