Make a Difference with Kindness
A random act of kindness is an unexpected, good deed done for another person. There are times when these small acts of kindness are planned or intentional, but other times they may truly just take place when the need or desire presents itself.
“Never get tired of doing little things for others. Sometimes, those little things occupy the biggest part of their hearts.”
February is a month jam-packed with many special reasons to celebrate and educate ourselves. One of my favorite occasions is Random Acts of Kindness Week, which takes place during the week of February 13-19, 2022. According to www.randomactsofkindness.org, “The work to create a kinder world never ends”.
A random act of kindness is an unexpected, good deed done for another person. There are times when these small acts of kindness are planned or intentional, but other times they may truly just take place when the need or desire presents itself. Either way, these actions have the potential to really make someone’s day, whether the recipient of the kind act or the initiator.
My goal here is to share ways that you can incorporate kindness into the special occasions of this month and on any given day, for that matter.
Black History Month is an annual celebration in February of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing their central role in U.S. history. But it also provides the opportunity to be reminded of how much progress is yet to be made in our country, and the opportunity to learn how we can contribute to progress.
Act of Kindness: Educate yourself - That could take place reading books, visiting historical museums, watching movies and documentaries, or asking appropriate and thoughtful questions directly to others. Be open-minded and prepare to listen and learn.
American Heart Month is dedicated time when focus is placed on heart disease, the number one killer of Americans. According to www.heart.org, “during American Heart Month, the AHA and other organizations reinforce the importance of heart health, the need for more research and efforts to ensure that millions of people live longer and healthier”.
Act of Kindness: Learn CPR - CPR stands for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, a lifesaving procedure performed when the heart stops beating. Immediate CPR can double or triple chances of survival after cardiac arrest. Visit cpr.heart.org for more information on the different types of CPR, proper training, and how you can help. You can’t get more kind than potentially helping to save someone’s life!
Valentine’s Day is celebrated annually on February 14 and is probably a holiday we are all pretty familiar with. Traditionally, known as a holiday to celebrate love, whether romantically or platonically. Loved ones and friends around the world exchange candy, upscale dinner dates, gifts, flowers, and other expressions of affection.
Act of Kindness: Remember those who may not have a “Valentine” - This could include by choice or by circumstance… friends, family, widows, divorcees, etc. Meet up for lunch, give a phone call, or even send a note.
With those specials occasions in the month of February being covered, now I’d like to share a few (30!) FREE or inexpensive ideas on how you can intentionally share kindness during Random Acts of Kindness Week and beyond!
Pray for someone
Tell someone you love them
Compliment someone
Send a handwritten thank you note
Donate clothing
Buy the order for the car behind you in the drive-through
Bake a dessert for your neighbor
Offer to go for a walk with a friend
Donate books to the library
Plant a tree
Mow your neighbor’s lawn
Give someone a gift card you don’t plan on using
Write a handwritten letter to an old friend
Offer an appropriate compliment to a stranger
Donate to a food bank
Safely pick up litter in your neighborhood
Offer water to the mailman
Take treats to the fire station
Hold the door open for someone
Send a postcard to a family member in another state
Write a note for your child’s lunchbox
Teach someone something new
Help your kids organize and donate old toys
Create a care package for a homeless person
Shovel snow from a neighbor’s driveway
Donate blood
Say “thank you, have a nice day” to someone who holds the door for you
Walk someone’s dog
Check on a friend
Smile with your eyes, behind your mask
These are just a few of the ways you can intentionally show kindness to someone you know or even strangers. And remember the well-known quote by Aesop, “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted”.
Fall In Love…
Fall in love…. with yourself, first. In my opinion, before we can properly love and serve others, we must know how to properly love and care for ourselves. You know that saying “You can’t pour from an empty cup”? Well, that means even with the best intentions, we cannot give the best of ourselves in any given situation when our own tank is running low.
Fall in love…. with yourself, first. In my opinion, before we can properly love and serve others, we must know how to properly love and care for ourselves. You know that saying “You can’t pour from an empty cup”? Well, that means even with the best intentions, we cannot give the best of ourselves in any given situation when our own tank is running low. Let’s think about that a little bit further… Imagine when you are driving your car with a full tank of gasoline, feeling confident that the vehicle will take you to your destination, and then some. After a while the gage reads that you are down to half a tank. You acknowledge the level, but know that you still have time to worry with that later… there’s no sense of urgency, because half empty could also be viewed as half full, right?! Lol! One-fourth of a tank…. one-eighth of a tank… GAS LIGHT comes on! Oh NO!
You’ve let too much time pass…. now, you are only left with a couple of options. You can stop for gas on the way to work, but only if you get up even earlier, skip breakfast, maybe run out the front door…. OR, you have to stop after work, after dark, at just the nearest gas station you can find, no matter what the neighborhood looks like. Woah! That’s a lot, but re-read that whole scenario and imagine that your body and mind are the gas tank. OUCH! It is really the same notion, it is really the same way that we sometimes treat ourselves. We expect our bodies and minds to keep going indefinitely without the proper fuel.
“Self-care is one of the active ways that I love myself. When you can and as you can, in ways that feel loving, make time and space for yourself.”
With that being said, we are days away from what has become known as the holiday to celebrate love, Valentine’s Day. Loved ones and friends around the world exchange candy, upscale dinner dates, gifts, flowers, and other expressions of affection. And, while you may be the giver or recipient of some, or all, of these lovely sentiments, I would encourage you to treat yourself just as well.
I have put together a list of ways you can show love and care to yourself. Sometimes, you have to think outside of the box, be creative and realize that there are so many ways for us to nourish our minds and bodies to fill our own gas tanks, before we pour into others.
Browse a bookstore for a book that catches your attention. Remember, it can be relaxing to find an interesting and light read, sometimes. Get lost in a good story that can take you away from your everyday norm.
Create a brand new recipe or update an old favorite. Make an entire evening out of it. For example, if you choose Mexican food, set the entire mood. Make a cocktail that complements the meal, and even play music of Mexican origin.
Enjoy a long, bubble bath or an aromatherapy-filled shower right in your own home. Turn off your electronics, light a candle, and just relax.
Come up with a new exercise routine. Working out does not have to be a chore. There are so many different types of movement geared towards strengthening, while relaxing you at the same time. For example, Yoga is a great mind/body exercise. In addition to physical postures, you engage different breathing techniques, and even meditation.
And last, but not least, buy yourself a box of chocolates (my favorite are pecan and caramel dipped in chocolate, just saying), and a bouquet of your favorite fresh flowers. Enjoy dinner from your favorite restaurant, do not be afraid to eat alone. It may feel awkward at first, but I know from experience that the feeling passes. Think about it, you do not have to share, and there’s no judgment about what you’ve ordered! Lol!
Now, I realize that some of these options are not as easy as others, especially when you may have a house full of little ones. But, part of the commitment to loving and caring for yourself means figuring out how to make it happen from time to time. We schedule appointments with doctors, supervisors, teachers, and even lunch dates with friends, the least we can do is pencil ourselves in, once or twice a month at minimum. If it doesn’t quite go as planned, don’t beat yourself up, reschedule and try again. Prayerfully, you have a long life ahead of you, you’ve got time to figure it all out, just do it.