Kindness is happening all of the time in little bits of love and compassion for each other.  When you notice acts of kindness, it can be contagious and inspire you to do your own random act of kindness.  It not only affects you and the recipient, but it affects everyone else who watches. If you need to improve your mood or raise your vibration, notice acts of kindness and pay it forward.

A few acts of kindness examples

My mom, Marvel, was always kind.  I would notice her kindness to strangers all the time.  Her brother, Fr. Rob, had this to say about her.  “One of Marvel’s great gifts was her ability to engage others in talk and conversation, even strangers.  Almost everyone felt comfortable and actually “trusting” when with her.  And as you say, it wasn’t long before laughter was part of the scene.”  At my mom’s funeral, her kindness was what most people remembered about her.

Related post:10 Lessons My Mom Taught Me

The other day, I was driving home with my dad from breakfast, and he noticed the Sentence to Serve workers picking up garbage in the median of the road.  We both said, “That’s nice,” and gave them a little wave of appreciation.  On the same car ride, Dad told me that he was a little late for breakfast, and someone was in his favorite booth.  As soon as he walked in, they moved for him.  During those same breakfasts, my dad shares his morning paper with the gentleman in the booth behind him.

I listened to the Goal Digger podcast the other day, and Jenna Kutcher was interviewing Ashley Reale.  Ashley is the founder of Love Everywhere.  She asked the question, “What if one act of kindness could change a life?”  Her mission was to share notes of encouragement by leaving them behind wherever she went.  She would put them on menus, on bulletin boards, on bathroom mirrors, and now she has ambassadors taking the cards on trips around the world to be left behind and found so someone can know they are seen, heard, and loved.  Her kindness is inspiring many others to pay it forward.  She grew up in a not-so-kind home, so she found a way to create a happier and kinder world.

A few other thoughts about kindness

In a world where we are becoming so divisive, acts of kindness can bring us together.  Notice kindness instead of differences or comparisons.  We can be a model for others.

It doesn’t take much to be kind to someone else.  Just a smile can change someone’s whole day.

The definition of kindness is “the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate. Having concern for others and yourself.”

Do you remember that commercial that shows one person helping someone across the street, and then someone else notices the kindness and helps someone with a door because their hands are full?  Someone else notices that, and then they do something kind and so on.  Kindness keeps getting paid forward directly and indirectly.  I loved that commercial!  Was it Coke or an insurance commercial?

One of my favorite things is noticing my children being kind to others.

Bullying does not just happen at school or with children.  As adults, we need to be aware of not shaming others and not participating in gossip.

According to the Positive Psychlopedia, being kind strengthens your immune system, reduces aches and pains, and boosts energy and strength in older adults.  It also helps you feel more compassionate, confident, useful, and in control.

Also, from the Positive Psychlopedia, when we’re kind, we show someone that they mean something to us. Even if they are a stranger, we’re saying: your life matters.

Being kind takes the focus off of yourself and lowers your stress levels.  It lifts your mood.

A few acts of kindness ideas

• Give Blood
• Let someone cut in line at the store
• Give out compliments
• Visit the elderly
• Hold the door open
• Pay off late fees at the library
• Paint positive words on rocks and put them in a random place to be found
• Pay off negative lunch balances at the school
• Bring dog or cat food to the Animal Shelter
• Be on time
• Say please, and thank you
• Be an organ donor
• Have a bag of essentials ready in your car to give to a homeless person
• Donate shoes, clothes, jewelry, and household items to local shelters or goodwill stores
• Send a positive message to someone on social media
• Help a parent struggling with their children at the grocery store
• Leave a nice comment on your friend’s blog
• Put your phone away and listen to your children or your friend
• Cook yourself and your family a healthy meal and eat it together
• Leave a bigger tip than normal
• Loan out your books
• Pick up litter
• Pay for someone’s coffee
• Volunteer
• Leave some extra quarters in the laundry room

The list could go on and on. The next time you are out in public, notice acts of kindness and see what they trigger you to do.  Be a role model for others.  Imagine the impact as it goes on and on.  Create a happier life!

Share your kindness stories in the comments below.  Let’s help make the world a kinder place!

Being able to be kind to others starts with being kind to yourself. Check out my 5 L’s of Living Marvelously book to discover a life you love!

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