Kind Times from the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation

I received my monthly Kind Times Newsletter from the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation today.

"Taking five minutes a week to text, tweet, email, post, write or say thank you to those in your life can make a difference; not only for the people to whom we’re grateful, but also to our own well-being. Do yourself a favor and take time to express gratitude."

It's amazing how much simple acts can affect our moods. I wonder if people realize what a difference it can make just to get a smile or a heartfelt 'thank you.'

And attitude is contageous.

When I was working in a group in which the leadership was disrespectful and demanding, the attitude seemed to flow to others. It put people on the defensive, always on their guard. It seemed like everyone was in a bad mood and no one wanted to work.

On the other hand, when I was in a group in which praise and gratitude were abundant, I liked going to work. People were happy and they passed that happiness on to others.

This is true with all our interactions with people. If we can just learn to treat each other with kindness we could create a whole kindness epidemic. The Random Acts of Kindness Website has ideas, quotes, and inspirations and lots of ideas. Check out the 100 Ideas for Kindness I got from The Ideas for Individuals and Groups document on the site:

100 IDEAS FOR KINDNESS
1 Deliver fresh-baked cookies to city workers.
2 Collect goods for a food bank.
3 Bring flowers to work and share them with coworkers.
4 Garden clubs can make floral arrangements for senior centers, nursing homes, hospitals, police stations, or shut-ins.
5 Adopt a student who needs a friend, checking in periodically to see how things are going.
6 Volunteer to be a tutor in a school.
7 Extend a hand to someone in need. Give your full attention and simply listen.
8 Merchants can donate a percentage of receipts for the week to a special cause.
9 Bring coworkers a special treat.
10 Students can clean classrooms for the custodian.
11 Buy a stranger a free pizza.
12 Distribute lollipops to kids.
13 Sing at a nursing home.
14 Offer a couple of hours of baby-sitting to parents.
15 Slip paper hearts that say “It’s Random Acts of Kindness Week! Have a great day!” under the windshield wipers of parked cars
16 Have a charity day at work, with employees bringing nonperishable food items to donate.
17 Serve refreshments to customers.
18 Draw names at school or work, and have people bring a small gift or food treat for their secret pal.
19 Remember the bereaved with phone calls, cards, plants, and food.
20 Treat someone to fresh fruit.
21 Pay a compliment at least once a day.
22 Call or visit a homebound person.
23 Hand out balloons to passersby.
24 Give free sodas to motorists.
25 Be a good neighbor. Take over a baked treat or stop by to say “Hello.”
26 Transport someone who can’t drive.
27 Mow a neighbor’s grass.
28 Say something nice to everyone you meet today.
29 Send a treat to a school or day-care center.
30 Volunteer at an agency that needs help.
31 Wipe rainwater off shopping carts or hold umbrellas for shoppers on the way to their cars.
32 Give the gift of your smile.
33 Send home a note telling parents something their child did well.
34 Adopt a homeless pet from the humane society.
35 Organize a scout troop or service club to help people with packages at the mall or grocery.
36 Host special programs or speakers at libraries or bookstores.
37 Offer to answer the phone for the school secretary for ten minutes.
38 Volunteer to read to students in the classroom.
39 Write notes of appreciation and bring flowers or goodies to teachers or other important people, such as the principal, custodian, or nurse


COMMUNITY IDEAS
40 Incorporate kindness into the curriculum at area schools, day care centers, or children’s classes in faith organizations.
41 Give a hug to a friend.
42 Tell your children why you love them.
43 Write a note to your mother/father and tell them why they are special.
44 Pat someone on the back.
45 Write a thank-you note to a mentor or someone who has influenced your life in a positive way.
46 Give coffee to people on their way to work in the morning.
47 Donate time at a senior center.
48 Give blood.
49 Visit hospitals with smiles, treats, and friendly conversation for patients.
50 Stop by a nursing home, and visit a resident with no family nearby.
51 Plant flowers in your neighbor’s flower box.
52 Give another driver your parking spot.
53 Leave a treat or handmade note of thanks for a delivery person or mail carrier.
54 Give free car washes.
55 Clean graffiti from neighborhood walls and buildings.
56 Tell your boss that you think he/she does a good job.
57 Tell your employees how much you appreciate their work.
58 Let your staff leave work an hour early.
59 Have a clean-up party in the park.
60 Tell a bus or taxi driver how much you appreciate their driving.
61 Have everyone in your office draw the name of a Random Acts of Kindness buddy out of a hat and do a kind act for their
buddy that day or week.
62 Give a pair of tickets to a baseball game or concert to a stranger.
63 Leave an extra big tip for the waitperson.
64 Drop off a plant, cookies, or donuts to the police or fire department.
65 Open the door for another person.
66 Pay for the meal of the person behind you in the drive-through.
67 Write a note to the boss of someone who has helped you, praising the employee.
68 Leave a bouquet of flowers on the desk of a colleague at work with whom you don’t normally get along.
69 Call an estranged family member.
70 Volunteer to fix up an elderly couple’s home.
71 Pay for the person behind you in the movie line.
72 Give flowers to be delivered with meal delivery programs.
73 Give toys to the children at the shelter or safe house.
74 Give friends and family kindness coupons they can redeem for kind favors.
75 Be a friend to a new student or coworker.
76 Renew an old friendship by sending a letter or small gift to someone you haven’t talked with in a long time.
77 For one week, act on every single thought of generosity that arises spontaneously in your heart, and notice what happens as a consequence
78 Offer to return a shopping cart to the store for someone loading a car.
79 Invite someone new over for dinner.
80 Buy a roll of brightly colored stickers and give them to children you meet during the day.
81 Write a card of thanks and leave it with your tip. Be sure to be specific in your thanks.
82 Let the person behind you in the grocery store go ahead of you in line.
83 When drivers try to merge into your lane, let them in with a wave and a smile.
84 Buy cold drinks for the people next to you at a ball game.
85 Distribute kindness bookmarks that you have made.
86 Create a craft project or build a bird house with a child.
87 Give a bag of groceries to a homeless person.
88 Laugh out loud often and share your smile generously.
89 Plant a tree in your neighborhood.
90 Make a list of things to do to bring more kindness into the world, and have a friend make a list. Exchange lists and do one a day
91 Use an instant camera to take people’s photographs at a party or community event, and give the picture to them.
92 As you go about your day, pick up trash.
93 Send a letter to some former teachers, letting them know the difference they made in your life.
94 Send a gift anonymously to a friend.
95 Organize a clothing drive for a shelter.
96 Buy books for a day care or school.
97 Slip a $20 bill to a person who you know is having financial difficulty.
98 Take an acquaintance to dinner.
99 Offer to take a friend’s child to ball practice.
100 Waive late fees for the week.