Random Acts of Kindness - A New Tradition

About a month or so ago, I had found something neat (yes, I said "neat") on Pinterest when I was browsing for Christmas ideas, indulgent sweet and savory recipes, and potential DIY projects.  It was a list that noted about 30 "random acts of kindness".    As a small bucket list item, I decided I was going to partake in this formally and it was going to become a new tradition in this household.   I also decided that I'm going to get the kids involved (Connor more so now since he's old enough and Ramsey later to teach him love and respect for others).

Being a good person and helping others is something I strive to do.  "Helping others" outside of the family isn't as always easy as it sounds (working from home, I certainly don't leave the house much!).   Instilling good values into my children is something I strive to do also.  Children are influenced by those around them.  And, what we teach them starts the path they will take in life.

I narrowed the list down, revamped it, plus added some of my own. I've been adamantly checking things off, one by one.  :-)

"RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS LIST" 

(Mind you, some of these things are no-brainers - they're things we already do and ways we act, but are things to be even more mindful of.)

1.  Give a genuine compliment every single day.

2.  Tell a friend that you love them and how they influence your life.

3.  Smile at everyone that you see!

4.  Do something nice for a stranger (aside from the usual door-holding and such).  How about buying the person behind you (in the drive-through lane) lunch?!

5.  Donate $$ to a worthy charity.

6.  Volunteer in the community.

7.  Teach someone something new.

8.  Encourage someone to pursue a goal.

9.  Forgive someone who hurt you.

10.  Apologize for mistakes.

11.  Say "please" and "thank you" and really mean it.

12.  Catch up with an old friend.

13.  Be a good listener to someone who needs to vent or discuss a problem.

14.  Leave a generous tip for a friendly waiter/waitress.

15.  Post an inspiration message/picture on Facebook.

16.  Deliver fresh-baked goods to the local fire department or police department.

17.  Shovel a neighbor's snowy driveway or sidewalk.

18.  Give blood.

19.  "Adopt-a-soldier".   Send a letter with gifts to show support for the Armed Services.

20.  Tell someone that you appreciate them and why.

21.  Leave a positive comment on a website that you enjoy.

22.  Spend more time with your children.  (EASY!!  LOVE IT!)  Remind them regularly how much you love them and why.

23.  Give an unexpected gift.

24.  Send someone flowers on a random day.

25.  Let someone cut in front of you in line.

26.  Thank a teacher or a mentor.

27.  Buy a toy at the store at Christmastime and donate it to "Toys for Tots".

28.  Clean out the closets and toy boxes.  Donate gently-used items to the local Salvation Army or "Kids Against Hunger" thrift store.

29.  Donate used books to a small library.

And... something NEW that I just did a few days ago and added to my yearly list (after reading a very sad and tragic, yet lovely and inspirational story about a little girl who lost her whole family, plus part of her limbs, to a fire set by an arsonist - and who "only wanted Christmas cards" for the holiday):

30.  Send a child you don't know a card with a lovely message.  SEND LOVE.

"No act of kindness, however small, is ever wasted."  ~ AESOP

I'm grateful for the special people in my life; my husband, my sons, my parents, grandparents, my in-laws, cousins, aunts, uncles, my dog (!!), extended family members, special neighbors, and my best friend.  I thank God every day for the gifts that He has bestowed upon me.

Merry Christmas family and friends!  I send my love to you.