Think about the time someone was kind to you for no reason. Maybe they told you that you did a great job at work, praised your outfit, held the door open while you walked on, or lent you an umbrella while it was raining. Kindness is contagious. When someone does something good for you, it inspires you to spread that kindness toward others.
But far too many times, we forget the power of these small acts – a compliment, a hug, a shoulder to cry on, or sometimes just a warm, gentle smile. We forget that these small random gestures have the power to make someone’s day brighter and turn around lives. To help us remember the importance of kindness, random acts of kindness week is celebrated every year from February 12-18. It first originated in New Zealand in 1995 and gradually spread worldwide.
Most people associate kindness with donating significant amounts to charities. While that is indeed a great way to spend the random acts of kindness week, it is definitely not the only one. If you don’t have the time or money to do anything substantial, you can still practice kindness through small everyday actions and words. To help you be an active part of this event, here are the seven most unique and simple ideas to celebrate random acts of kindness week this year.
Unique Ways To Be A Part Of Random Acts Of Kindness Week
1. Say thank you more often.
Say thank you to your bus or taxi driver, the receptionist at your office, your doctor, the checkout staff at the supermarket, and just about anyone who makes your life a little easier.
2. Donate books
Yes, having a huge collection of books is great, but so is donating and sharing them with others. Many people cannot afford these books but would love to read and learn from them just like you did. You can also attach a small note with the book to the next person who is going to read it.
3. Don’t be hateful on social media.
The next time you want to post that angry tweet on Twitter or a hateful comment under a YouTube video – don’t. Take a deep breath. It is okay to be overwhelmed with emotions or not like something or someone. But there is no excuse for being downright hateful to someone. Think of how you would want to be treated if you had posted a similar video, and act accordingly.
Read more: Celebrate World Kindness Day By Being Kind Whenever Possible
4. Help the elderly in your neighborhood
If you have any elderly residents in your area, make sure you ask them if they need any help. Ask if you can get them groceries or mow their lawns, etc. Additionally, you can extend generosity to all your neighbors, irrespective of their age.
5. Acknowledge the people who work for you
This random acts of kindness week, make a genuine effort to acknowledge the people who work to make your life easier. This could include the maintenance workers in your building or office, the security guards, etc. Ask them how they have been doing lately. Try to get to know where they come from. This small gesture or interest in people whose work is generally ignored daily can make their day.
6. Send letters
Instead of regular text messages, try sending your loved ones actual hand-written letters. Yes, texts and emails are sweet and easier to send, but hand-written letters have the warmth that people can preserve and remember for years to come.
Read more: 10 Reasons Why Kindness Is Important
7. Spend a night in a food kitchen in your area.
This is one of the things that has been preached to you for years. Nevertheless, spending a night in a food kitchen in your area is one of the best things you can do this random acts of kindness week. This way, you can help people in genuine need and learn from the experiences of different people you meet in the kitchen.
Conclusion:
Kindness is one of the most important values in human society. Random acts of kindness week is a reminder that even small gestures like a smile, hug, or a simple nod of acknowledgment have the power to make the world a better place.
We hope these unique ways will help you be an active part of kindness week this year. Most importantly, we hope you will learn to imbibe the values of kindness in your daily life. To help you get started, here are the most inspiring kindness quotes.
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