Here at Zazzle, we love a feel-good story – and especially one that puts a new spring in our step on dreary February mornings. Thanks to the Denver-based, Bay Area-founded Random Acts of Kindness Foundation (RAK), February 17th is also known as National Random Acts of Kindness Day. Ever since 1995, the RAK has been encouraging us to foster connections, promote good mental health, and ultimately create a “ripple effect” with our good deeds. No wonder we’re filled with joie de vivre today!
Whether it’s a warm smile to a stranger or a thoughtful donation to someone less fortunate than you, there are countless ways to brighten someone’s day (and to brighten yours, in turn). But since we’re in such a giving mood today, we’ve come up with a list of 10 to get you started. Learn more below – and no need to thank us, by the way!
The Ultimate Mood-Booster: Pay Someone a Compliment
Everyone loves to receive compliments – even we do, at Zazzle Ideas, so feel free to leave some in the comments below. Today, make it your mission to pay somebody – whether it be a stranger or someone you know – a compliment. In order for a compliment to mean anything, it must be sincere, so think about something you genuinely appreciate or admire about the person, and make their day with its reveal! Oh, and for equally good results, pass your remark onto someone else – the likelihood is that they’ll ferry your praise back to the subject.
Your New Best Friend: Walk a Neighbor’s Dog
Random acts of kindness aren’t restricted to humans, either. We all know, for example, that most dogs are excitable when it comes to W-A-L-K-I-E-S (a word we’ve spelled out here to avoid any nearby canines losing their minds). However, for any elderly, immobile, or busy owners, the opportunity to give their dog proper exercise isn’t always available to them. Grab that leash, then, and take their pet for a much-needed amble, saunter, stroll, or ramble. We bet the dog won’t say no!
Yours Sincerely: Write Someone a Letter
Despite the fact that everyone claims to love getting handwritten mail, few of us actually take the time to compose letters these days. Do USPS a favor, then, and put pen to paper for the sake of National Random Acts of Kindness Day. Update a far-flung friend on any local goings-on, or surprise a relative in the next town over with an unexpected thank you card. You could even romance your spouse with a carefully penned verse, or woo your crush with a love letter!
Hashtag Kindness: Give a Business a Boost
Small businesses survive by the power of word of mouth: it builds trust and drives growth without needing a large advertising campaign. If you know a local entrepreneur trying to drum up business or a mom-and-pop store feeling the pinch, today could be the day to acknowledge them on social media. Give them a shoutout on your status, upload a selfie from the shop floor, or toast a good experience with a 5-star Google or TrustPilot review. People are quick to point out bad customer service, but we should be equally prompt when rewarding good customer service.
Pajamas and Pancakes: Serve Breakfast in Bed
From the romantic presentation to the mouthwatering ingredients, a well-prepared morning meal can set the tone for an incredible day! While you might be too late for Valentine’s Day, any lazy Sunday can be the opportunity to get up before your partner and plan out the menu. How about fluffy pancakes, freshly squeezed orange juice, and a platter of buttery croissants? Or light some scented candles and scatter rose petals along the tray for an intimate touch! To learn more about cultivating a hearty breakfast from the, um, heart, read “The Right Way to Do Breakfast in Bed.”
Golden Moments: Visit an Elderly Person
Another small service you could do, by the way, would be to visit an elderly person. Loneliness is an epidemic both in the U.S. and elsewhere, and particularly among older generations. Even those surrounded by grandchildren might be alone more often than they’d like. So why not call to a grandparent with a deck of cards, to a neighbor with a home-cooked meal, or to a retirement home with a couple of old records? Your hosts are bound to appreciate the company, and you could even take that dog we mentioned earlier for another W-A-L-K.
Bloomin’ Wonderful: Send Someone Flowers
Ah, but when it comes to brightening up someone’s day, nothing could be kinder than to send someone a bouquet. From the gorgeous colors to the fragrant aromas, flowers are a sensory delight. So request an arrangement of your special someone’s favorite florals – or give the florist license to choose their own assortment – and have it hand-delivered to your recipient out of the blue. Even a garland of artificial flowers can lift people’s moods, and they won’t require any maintenance or stir up any allergies either (an act of kindness in itself)!
Give What You Can: Donate Your Time or Money to Charity
NGOs, charities, and philanthropic foundations like the RAK are essentially built on acts of kindness, and they wouldn’t be able to function without dedicated volunteers and benefactors. Think of a cause that means something to you – whether that be animal rights awareness, poverty relief, or even the recent LA wildfires and their aftermath. Then make a donation to their latest fundraiser, or, better yet, devote some of your time to volunteering in person. You could assist at a homeless shelter, help a charity appeal for funds, or advocate for veterans in your community.
Trash Talk: Tidy Up Your Neighborhood
If you’re still struggling to find a volunteering opportunity in your community, then why not look closer to home? And we mean extremely close to home – are there any new traces of litter, graffiti, or pollution that might be marring the beauty of your street or block? Summon a couple of willing friends and residents to fight the good fight against trash and debris, ensuring you have the proper equipment to hand. And if you can’t wrangle a community clean-up just yet, set yourself a small, personal challenge, e.g. pick up one piece of litter a day.
Time for Lunch: Treat Your Coworkers
You know who else would benefit from Random Acts of Kindness Day? Those industrious, committed, hungry coworkers of yours, who simply can’t get enough of your candy favors and baked goods. When business is booming or a project has dragged on for too long, it can be hard to find time for full-length lunches and proper catch-ups. Leave your colleagues no choice in the matter by bringing in enough luscious pastries and hot chocolate to have them floating into the rec room by their noses, à la Looney Tunes.
National Random Acts of Kindness Day is an annual event, but the aim is to make it a daily one – to make people feel like paying compliments, writing letters, and treating their coworkers a lot more often. If you want to maintain the spirit of the day all year round, then take a look at two articles that should help you to do so: “5 Easy Ways to Help Your Community” and “Find the Fun in Giving Back on National Nonprofit Day [and Beyond]!”
Eoin is a Content Specialist at Zazzle in Cork. He’s recently bought a house with his fiancée, and thus most of his time these days is spent trying to keep the walls from caving in and the wolves from the door. Still, he’s always open to book, game, and movie recommendations, so if you have some, let him know: he’ll add them to a very, very long list.
