We can often get caught up in the busyness of our lives and forget to think of others. Not only can a small, thoughtful gesture make someone’s day, but it also makes you feel wonderful and inspires others to be kind.
“The effects of kindness are not always seen immediately. Sometimes it takes years until your kindness will pay off and is returned to you. And sometimes you never see the fruits of your labors, but they are there, deep inside of the soul of the one you touched” ~ Dan Kelly
Here are fifty suggestions for small acts of kindness:
1. Volunteer at a soup kitchen.
2. Offer your seat to someone on public transportation.
3. Send flowers to a friend.
4. Leave a generous tip for your waiter / waitress.
5. Compliment a stranger.
6. Pay for a drink for the person behind you in line.
7. Hold the door for someone.
8. Donate gently used clothing.
9. Participate in a community clean up.
10. Buy colouring books and crayons for children at a local hospital.
11. Become an organ donor.
12. Send a thank you note to your local police station or fire hall.
13. Help someone with their luggage (or grocery bags).
14. Forgive someone.
15. Pick up trash at a local park or playground.
16. Let someone know how much you appreciate them.
17. Mow your neighbour’s lawn (or shovel their driveway).
18. Bring homemade food to a new mom.
19. Have good manners.
20. Mentor someone.
21. Volunteer to read to children at a local school or library.
22. Praise someone at work for doing a good job.
23. Be courteous to your fellow drivers.
24. Leave a treat for your mail carrier.
25. Grocery shop for someone who is housebound or ill.
26. Pet sit or look after children for a friend for free.
27. Invite the person behind you in line to go first.
28. Drop off snacks for the teachers at your child’s school.
29. Collect books for the library.
30. Help an elderly person cross the street.
31. Adopt an animal.
32. Donate old blankets to a pet hospital.
33. Ask for donations to your favourite charity instead of birthday gifts.
34. Leave a happy note in a library book.
35. Buy extra school supplies for a teacher.
36. Walk a friend’s dog.
37. Learn CPR. It could save someone’s life.
38. Phone your local food bank and ask what they are in need of. Donate it.
39. Offer your skills (sewing, cooking or DIY) to others.
40. Leave a bottle of detergent at a laundromat.
41. Donate blood.
42. Write a thank you letter to someone from your past who made a difference in your life.
43. Donate teddy bears to your local police station to help traumatized children.
44. Visit a nursing home and make new friends.
45. Take photos for tourists.
46. Write a letter to a child.
47. Let your parents know how much you love them.
48. Buy balloons and hand them out to children.
49. Ask people how you can help them.
50. Greet people with a smile!
These actions may be small but they help make others’ lives better. I hope they inspire you.
I love this list! We are doing a Summer of Service challenge – I would love to have you join us!
Thanks for sharing at #summerfamilyfun!
This is great. And truly the list is endless of random acts we can do for others… .but this list is a GRAND start!!!
I think we forget how far good manners can take us. Just being polite to someone can make a big difference.
I love that this list is simple and doable- little things we can do to help that don’t take a ton of time or planning, but make a difference. Thanks for the inspiration 🙂
Thanks so much for visiting Kelsey! Enjoy a lovely week.
Lovely to have found your blog. And yes, sometimes we do need a little bit of kindness…it goes a long, long way. 🙂
I love these sweet and thoughtful ideas, Debbie! And I love your heart for sharing them with us! Thank you! Peace and many blessings to you, Love! 🙂
Thank you so much Tai! Have a lovely weekend.
What a wonderful post Debbie. There are so many things that we can do to show Kindness and I really appreciate your list. Thanks for sharing at Good Morning Mondays. . Blessings
Thank you Terri! Have a lovely weekend.
Love this! Thanks for sharing at the #HomeMattersParty – we love partying with you! Hope to see you next Friday. 🙂
~Lorelai
Life With Lorelai
Wonderful post!! Yes, let us all do some more of this! Thanks for sharing at Home Sweet Home!