I found this awesome list of 134 Ideas for Random Acts of Kindness at this
I just had to share it with you all, especially with Thanksgiving coming up and so many people out there who are need of a helping hand... whether big or small! Let's help others in any way that we can this holiday season, with the message to "Pay it Forward". If we can each help only 3 people, then they can each help 3 people and so on.... we can affect so many lives with our simple, caring, actions! If you decide to do something kind for someone, please comment below and let us know how you paid it forward!
1. Befriend the lonely person
2. Introduce yourself to your neighbors
3. Compliment a stranger
4. Sing Christmas Carols at a nursing home - Then have everyone over to your house after for cookies and cocoa
5. Adopt an animal from the pound
6. Donate your talents
7. Send paper thank you notes
8. Pay for the coffee, the toll, or the bus fare for the person behind you
9. Let the person who seems rushed cut in front of you
10. Hold your tongue - Pause before speaking or writing when you are mad, agitated or doubtful
11. Be empathetic - Really try to put yourself in the other person’s shoes
12. Be thoughtful - Did your co-worker have a bad day today? Bring her a coffee tomorrow morning.
13. Hold the door open for someone
14. Play cupid - You know those two people who would totally be great together and they just haven’t met yet? Get them in the same room together and let nature take it’s course. Helpful hint from a wannabe match-maker (me) don’t tell them you want to set them up and then sit there and watch them all night long to see how it’s going and if you were right (been there, done that, totally doesn’t work. All I’ve got to say about that is, hello awkward!). Introduce them and then bring up the common ground that they share. “Betty Sue, you’re from New Orleans just like Tim Bob here!” (you like those names don’t you). They just might be a match, and then, at their wedding (we’re going full-on optimist here) you’ll be able to tell everyone, “Told you so!”
15. Give your boxes to someone who is moving
16. Be thankful
17. Be encouraging
18. Let people merge-in during traffic
19. Help people move
20. Say “Thank you”, a lot - Everyone works hard. Thanks are especially important to the postal worker, the government employee, the DMW clerk, the bus driver, the grocery store cashiers (especially when you bring up all that produce and they have to look-up every single code) and baggers
21. Call your parents and tell them you love them
22. Let your partner watch their show - And don’t roll your eyes or huff and puff about it
23. Don’t be annoying - Make a conscious effort to avoid doing the things you know annoy your spouse (or roommates)
24. Send your friend a letter
25. Volunteer at a department of corrections or juvenile hall
26. Spread your skills - If you have a skill (photography, outfit styling, cooking, website programming, etc.) and you know someone who has expressed an interest in what you do offer to teacher them what you know
27. Give freely - Go through your things and give freely to those in need
28. Have a shirt that your friend always compliments you on? Why not give it to her?
29. Offer to get groceries for your friend or relative who has a broken leg or other mobility problem
30. Make extra copies of photos and send them to the people who are in the images
31. Offer to help your friend unpack
32. Call everyone you know and tell them you love them
33. Give warm clothes, shoes, and boots to the homeless
34. Help someone whose car has broken down
35. Connect people to each other
36. Walk the cart back to the front of the store
37. Reach out to a person who has made a difference in your life
38. Send a care package to a solider
39. Listen when no one else wants to
40. Be patient
41. Try to find goodness in the person you don’t like
42. Ask someone if they’ve lost some weight or tell them that they’re “just glowing”
43. Know someone who just had a baby or other major life event? - Bring a meal, offer to clean up their house or do a load of laundry for them.
44. Do you know that your partner hates doing the dishes but you don’t really mind doing them? Do them.
45. Don’t nag - Even if you really, really, really want to
46. Be kind to yourself - Make peace with your past mistakes. Use that knowledge to help others who might be going through the same thing.
47. Let it go
48. Be someone’s cheerleader
49. Already sweeping leaves or shoveling the snow off your sidewalk? - Do your neighbors sidewalk too.
50. Do nice things and don’t tell anyone about it
51. Notice a kid being well-behaved? - Tell their parents how good they are while the kid is standing there. It will encourage the kid to continue being good, and will make the parents feel good.
52. (Along the same lines as #51) Compliment people in front of others - For some reason compliments hold more weight when they’re done in front of others.
53. Bring donuts or other delicious sweets to work
54. Give chocolate generously and often;)
55. Tell your boss how much you like working for them and how much you’ve learned from them over the years
56. Bake a cake for the birthday person
57. Don’t complain
58. Be the eternal optimist of the group
59. Recognize the good in others
60. Look for the best in the situation
61. Leave nice comments on blogs, Twitter, and Facebook
62. Stand up for the underdog
63. Come to the rescue of someone in need
64. Smile easily and laugh - Even at the so-so jokes
65. Share - Even if you don’t really want to
66. Let someone else have your seat on the crowded bus, light-rail or subway
67. Rather than throwing away obviously lost items turn them into the “Lost and Found” desk
68. Do the task no one else wants to do
69. Create a happy book - Gather all your good memories and thoughts into 1 spot
70. Keep a pen on hand - Lend it to people when needed
71. Don’t leave others waiting for you - Be on time
72. Fill up the gas tank and/or wash the car for your partner and then leave candy on the dashboard for them to find in the morning before work.
73. Tell your partner how amazingly “hot” they are
74. Tell your partner what a good hair/butt day they’re having
75. Tell your partners parents how talented your partner is at something
76. Tip generously
77. Say “Hi” to strangers
78. Smile at people
79. Help lost people - See tourists wandering around lost? Help them out. Be their new local friend. Someone did this for us once and we were so, so thankful.
80. Offer a ride to someone who is car-less
81. Help that stressed parent by offering to babysit
82. If the work-day is running late and you know your co-worker has somewhere they have to be offer to stay late so they don’t have to worry about figuring it out
83. Thank your co-workers for doing a good job, for getting extra supplies, for thinking ahead, for being easy to work with
84. Donate your old car and clothes to charities
85. Go to your friend’s kid’s event
86. Buy the stuff the neighbor kid is selling - Moderately, of course;)
87. Stop at the neighbor kid’s lemonade stand and make a purchase
88. Create a “Dress-Up” box for a kid
89. Skype or FaceTime with the kids in your life - My nieces and nephews LOVE FaceTiming and I love to see them smiling and showing off their latest creation or other things that they’re prod of :)
90. Pick up the tab - Go up to the waiter and pay when no one is watching (of course only if you’re in the financial situation to do so)
91. Avoid gossip - No need to spread any negativity
92. Give the painter, electrician, or handyman a glass of water or offer them a pop
93. Be understanding - Assume the best in others. If someone is running late or has called in sick don’t assume they’re trying to get out of something.
94. Go to your friends art opening
95. Spread the word - If you know someone who takes pictures, paints interiors, is a super nanny, a wonderful accountant, etc. Let others know. People who work for themselves needword of mouth referrals more than anyone else.
96. Be inviting - Ask people to do something with you
97. Leave extra time in the parking meter
98. Don’t write the complaint letter that you’re thinking about writing
99. Hang out with the person who just moved to town
100. Drop quarters on the sidewalk for people to find
101. Leave a whole bunch of pennies heads-up for kids to find on the sidewalk or other public places - Kids love finding heads-up pennies
102. Be understanding of traveling parents with the grumpy or noisy kids
103. Pack extra snacks and offer them to your co-workers or friends
104. Leave good books (or other nice stuff) for your fellow apartment dwellers to take from your shared common spaces
105. Compliment people on their homes
106. Forgive the person you used to hate back in the day
107. Make amends for the wrongs you have done
108. Respect your partner and don’t make decisions without their input
109. Let someone else have their way without putting up a fight about it
110. Donate your vacation or sick days to a person at work who is struggling with cancer or another horrible illness
111. Participate - The people who organize events always worry that no one will take part. That ugly sweater contest or bake-off needs you!
112. Respond timely – Even if you have to say, “Hey, just wanted to let you know I got your email and I’ll get right back to you.” People like to know they’re not being ignored.
113. Don’t leave people hanging - If you’re not into something someone suggests just tell them so (especially in a professional or work-related situation – don’t act like they’re a date that you want to stand-up/avoid- not professional or cool, at all. Be kind.)
114. Lend your expertise to someone in need of it
115. Give CD’s to your friends that have your favorite songs on them
116. Send a surprise book to someone from an online retailer
117. Don’t let your friends (or co-workers or acquaintances) be alone on the holidays
118. Listen to someone’s life story - Yes, the whole thing
119. Be friendly on public transportation
120. Keep your bad attitude to yourself
121. Decorate for the holidays
122. Be happy for others
123. Be super enthusiastic when people have good news!
124. Don’t butt-in or give advice when you’re not asked for it - Have confidence in others; trust that they are fully capable of being in charge of their own lives.
125. Mind your own business
126. Selflessly help (and promote) others
127. Give a glowing recommendation
128. Tell the person who is looking for a job when you hear about an opening
129. Know that someone was Valedictorian, Homecoming Queen, or Prom King in high school? Tell others because they can’t tell people themselves (without it sounding like they’re bragging)
130. Call your in-laws
131. Help people out who might be feeling awkward
132. Generously give your knowledge
133. Have you discovered something that has changed your life? - Share what you know and inspire others to change their lives too
134. Spread the goodness - Let others know you are on a mission to spread kindness and they will be inspired to do the same
You can be the change you want to see. Let’s do what we can, together.
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