Random Acts of Kindness - 20 Simple Things to Do to Brighten Someone Else's Day

Did you know this week has been dubbed Random Acts of Kindness Week? Being kind to others is always a good idea and is beneficial for both the person showing kindness as well as the recipient of a kind word, gesture or act. I always feel better about life the more I help others.

To make it easier for you to participate, here is a list of 20 things you could do. See how many acts of kindness you do throughout the week.

1. Open a door for someone else
2. Give a waiter, pizza delivery person, bell person or barber/stylist a more generous tip than usual.
3. Say “please” and “thank you”
4. Call a friend you haven’t spoken to in a long time whose friendship you would like to renew
5. Wash your spouse’s car
6. Give your spouse or partner a back rub, foot rub or massage
7. Put a special treat or note in your children’s lunch box/bag
8. Have a friendly conversation with a neighbor you don’t know well
9. Return to you neighbor any stray balls the children might have thrown or kicked into your yard
10. Read a magazine article or pages of a book to an elderly family member who may not see so well any more.
11. Recognize a coworker, family member, student, teacher or employee for a job well done
12. Read your children an extra bedtime story
13. Take your spouse to the movies and let him/her pick which movie to see
14. Surprise your secretary/assistant with a gift card
15. Mail pictures of your family to your parents and other extended family members
16. Share a humorous story with others
17. Donate time, money, food, clothing or toys to a non-profit organization (see http://www.volunteermatch.org/ for ideas of opportunities in your area)
18. Forgive another person for something
19. Offer a helping hand if given an opportunity to do so
20. Refrain from saying hurtful words to someone else. As Benjamin Franklin said “Remember not only to say the right thing in the right place, but far more difficult still, to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment.”

Of course, there are many more things that could be done. This list is meant simply to get others started in thinking of ways to be kind to others.

If you are so inclined, you may also become a member at http://www.actsofkindness.org/. Membership is free and once registered, you can send e-cards, download free stuff and even create a website to show acts of kindness you have done. The site also lists a number of health benefits from being kind.

Feel free to comment on ways you show kindness to others. I look forward to hearing from you. Have fun and remember to spread kindness now and throughout the year.

Stop, pause, let go, reset

Yesterday I really needed to slow way down and calm the anxiety that had built over several days of not accomplishing as much as I would have liked. Normally, I like to have a plan for the most part to stay on track but due to an office move at work, any plans made were complicated by a number of factors and more stress than normal ensued. It all needed to be dealt with yesterday.

I woke up with a migraine headache that affected my vision somewhat as well as my mood. I recognized that I had a headache so I didn’t jump to any other conclusions but my patience and tolerance was much less than normal. I went about my morning routine but with some confusion and frustration. After letting tears flow for a few minutes while I stood in my driveway, I dropped my toddler off at daycare and proceeded to drive to work. Only a few minutes into my drive, after being in direct sunlight did I realize my headache was worse than I thought, so I called work saying I would be late, drove to a nearby café and bought juice and a cookie. Then I sat in my car and tried to relax making sure to take some deep breaths as I ate. I turned off the car radio and closed my eyes.

The image that almost immediately came in view was of a tree without any leaves, maybe four feet tall, surrounded by a patch of white snow on the ground in the middle of an expanse of dirt ground. As stark as the tree was, I was captivated by it. Its small trunk and bare branches showed resilience in the face of harsh winter weather as illustrated by the rest of the scene. I knew that when the sun appeared again and the temperatures became warmer, it would grow new leaves and project beauty to all around. I opened my eyes and my thoughts were no longer scattered. It had taken only a matter of minutes for me to restore a competent and calm state of being once I took it upon myself to let go of the reins, even if only for a few minutes. It didn’t matter that I was sitting in a car in the middle of a shopping center parking lot with sounds of traffic and shopping carts being pushed in the periphery. I was able to focus, regain control of my thoughts, recognize my slower breathing and be thankful for having the rest of my day before me. Had I plowed ahead with my daily list of things to be done with little regard for my own health, I probably would have wound up doing myself more harm than good.

Today take at least five minutes for yourself to reset. Perhaps you can walk instead of driving to pickup lunch or sit in your car for a few minutes before going into an appointment. How do you slow down to reset? Do you have a favorite place to meditate or unwind?

I look forward to reading your comments.