What acts of kindness have you had the pleasure to witness? Are there a few that still to this day linger in your mind and remind you that there are loving and caring people in this world? I can certainly recall a few. I can distinctly remember being sick at home, and my mom running an errand and returning with ginger ale for my stomach and gorgeous red gladiola flowers. That might be the motherly thing to do, but it felt very special. As a kid I wasn’t usually allowed to drink soda so it was huge treat. She also knew I loved beautiful flowers, specifically gladiolas. Acts even simpler than this have made my day brighter and cheerful.
Holding the door for someone, giving a genuine smile or compliment are all popular and affect methods of cheering someone’s day up. However, being the emotional investigator that I am…I wanted to find the ingredients of an act of kindness that sticks to your ribs causing everlasting warm fuzzy feelings. After brainstorming I came up with a few ingredients for an act of kindness that will not be forgotten.
1.) Know the affections of your neighbor. What makes them smile? What brings them pleasure? Do they love a clean house, the color blue, or going to bed early? Dig deeper… Find the little things they love that might not be obvious to the eye.
2.) What are they lacking and desire? Find an area of need. Replace that empty space with what wasn’t there (something that will bring joy)
3.) This should be done with grace, humbleness, and heartfelt thoughtfulness. There is no place for manipulative ulterior motives.
These ‘ingredients’ provided you with ways of giving to those you are close to, but what about those you don’t have the pleasure really knowing? I believe it all boils down to the simple act of being a charitable person. To me this means having a positive front and going out of your way to be useful. Seek opportunities where you can bring happiness. Almost everybody could use someone to talk to or someone to listen to them. What person doesn’t want a genuine compliment or simple gift? If someone is struggling, help them out. Do this all with a smile and a loving heart, and boom you have made someone happier! Below I have created a inspirational list of actions one could take.
1. Share fresh produce with your neighbors
2. Give someone your rapt attention
3. Leave a funny note in a library book to make someone smile
4. Send a secret package to someone that could use some uplifting
5. Leave an encouraging note on a car
6. Call a grandparent
7. Organize a potluck
8. Freely offer your skills
9. Stop at a child's lemonade stand
10. Bring someone a coffee, just how they like it
11. Rake your neighbor's leaves
12. Encourage someone who is working hard
13. Forgive someone
14. Speak to somone who appears lonely at a social event
15. Offer your seat to someone on the bus/train
16. Run an errands for someone
17. Tutor a student
18. Fill up someone's gas tank
19. Tell someone how much you appreciate them
20. Offer a hug
If you wanted to make acts of kindess a bigger part of your day you could make a goal of writing down three to do on a give day and follow through with them. If this is done for a while, I wouldn't be suprised if the practice got integrated into your life naturally.
"A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees." -Amelia Earheart