I’m Inspired to do Random Acts of Kindness
I’m not sure how I found the first one, but when I read how Inner Child Fun blogger Valerie spent her birthday doing 35 acts of kindness in one day, I was inspired. Her post stopped me in my tracks actually. Suddenly, I seemed to find more bloggers who were doing this. Thumba Lea did 28 acts of kindness for her birthday. And Just a Bunch of Momsense celebrated her birthday this way too.
My birthday is coming up and I wanted to do something similar but …
- I’m MUCH older than these ladies. I’m turning 48!
- I don’t think I can pull off 48 acts of kindness in a day and it would stress me out to try.
- Talking to strangers is a little intimidating for me, especially to explain what I’m doing.
So … I thought I’d do a variation that would make me really happy. I don’t need or want anything for my birthday, instead I’m asking my family to do an act or two of random kindness to help me celebrate.
I’m not picky either. It doesn’t have to be on my exact birthday — we were never very exact with birthday celebrations hitting actual birthdays growing up — any time close to my birthday will be just fine. Say, plus or minus a week.
I’d like to plan some acts of kindness. I’d love to support some causes close to my heart: books for kids who don’t have any, food for local food pantries, and anonymous wish granting to strangers who need help via Globe Santa.
I’m going to post later on the 48 acts of kindness in celebration of my birthday. Wish me luck!
p.s. I want to do these same acts of kindness that Inner Child Fun, Thumba Lea and Just a Bunch of Momsense did:
A day of no road rage / riding people’s butts / honking. (This would also improve my driving).
Brought sweets to the fire department. (We live next to a fire station).
$10 Starbucks Gift Card for the Bus Driver. (I’d like to gift to our school secretary, our mailman and few other folks).
Picked up Litter on the Sidewalk. (I am also going to pick up random dog poo at our off leash dog park).
Made a Kiva Loan — Kiva.org is an organization that provides micro-loans to entrepreneurs in developing countries. Lenders can choose what amount to donate, and once the loan is paid off, you can either withdraw your funds or re-loan to another entrepreneur. (This sounds amazing. Thanks Inner Child Fun for this great idea. Definitely doing this too!)
$10 Starbucks Gift Card for the Mail Carrier (And maybe our UPS person too who comes every day).
Paid down two separate layaway contracts at Kmart down to $0.01 — While this was the most costly item on the list, it was totally awesome. Kmart allows anonymous donors called “Layaway Angels” to donate funds towards someone else’s layaway contract. Recipients’ names are never disclosed, and donors can opt to have their funds donated toward accounts with children’s clothing or toys. Recipients must make their final payments to pick up their merchandize, but Kmart allows donors to take down someone else’s layaway to just $0.01. (I love this. Can I do online? There isn’t a Kmart near me. Need to research).
Ran a Simple Errand for a Friend
Let Someone Go Ahead of Me
Donated a bag of clothes to charity.
Sent in a small gift for the school nurse.
Stopped at a laundromat and left quarters on one of the washers.
Sent a card to a child with Cancer through Hugsandhope.org
Yikes, I just added these up and I’m only to about 16. I have a long ways to go …
If you would like to help me celebrate my birthday anytime during the first week of January, please email me or comment with your random act of kindness you did on my behalf. If you send me a photo, I’ll post it. Thank you! PragmaticMomBlog@gmail.com
p.s. I found this great form from This n That on Pinterest! I’ll be using it for my random acts of kindness!
p.p.s. Thank you also to Thumba Lea for this great Acts of Kindness Printable. I’ll use this too!
p.p.s. Elijah the Superhero by Beth Arnold sends this same message in a picture book that acts of kindness, done deliberately, make you a superhero capable of changing the world. I love this message to kids. Elijah spends the day doing some of the aforementioned acts of kindness and learns what a difference they can make.
Happy Birthday and what a great way to celebrate. I think it might be a rally good way of getting into the Christmas spirit too. What is a layaway contract by the way – I don’t think the term is used in the UK but the from the gist of what you say, it sounds as amazing as you suggest!
Thanks Marjorie! I have to find out of there is a K-Mart near me or if I can phone in the Layaway Angel plan. Not sure if Target does this either. A layaway contract is when the buyer says he or she wants to buy something. You bring it up to the store to customer service and they put it away for you. I think you might have to put a “down” payment on it. You probably have a certain amount of time to pay for it too. It’s like a mortgage for an item. Not sure if there is interest though.
Love it Mia! Great idea to get the nurse a gift. I cover everyone else but always overlook her- so thanks 🙂
Hi Gwen,
I love our school nurse! I know my kids visit her a lot so I am trying to remember her this year though I have forgotten in years past!
Happy birthday, Mia! I love the idea about the KMart layaway! It actually put a knot in my throat thinking about someone coming to pay for it and finding it paid!
Hi Dee,
Not my birthday for a few weeks, but thought I’d hint to my kids and husband what I wanted for it. Yes, I want to do the KMart Layaway Angels though there isn’t one near me. I am going to try to see if I can phone it in.
Such a kind thing to do for your birthday…. love it!
Happy birthday!
Thanks Twisterfish!
Good luck! Can’t wait to hear all about it when you’re done!
Thanks MaryAnne. I will post on it eventually after I do it. I’m a little nervous but now that it’s out there, I will do it.
How about leaving surprise unsigned cards or love letters for people to find – the first idea from Stargirl, the second from a story that has been making the rounds on Facebook. I’m going to save your ideas, because my next birthday will be a big one and Random Acts of Kindness fit into my ideal celebration.
Hi Ginny,
Love that! Will add that to my list!
What a wonderful selfless idea. I really love some of the ideas here especially the Kmart one!
Happy Birthday too!!!
Hi Ann,
The Kmart one seems to be getting a big reaction. I want to do it this week so people can find it for Xmas presents … even though my birthday is after Christmas. I’m sure that is ok, right? I guess I get to make the rules for this one!
You go girl! Count me in! On my birthday, my friends wanted to have a party for me. I asked them to bring cans for the food bank instead of gifts. Only one did so – but it went to a lady who is raising 5 children on her own. Great idea and will be checking back to see how it goes. Love this time of year.
Thanks Susan,
Can you tell I am a little nervous about pulling it off?
I like the idea of doing random acts of kindness on my birthday but like you, I”m older than a lot of my blogger friends. But, I would love to do a random act of kindness around your birthday! I’ll stop back right after Christmas with my RAK!
Thanks so much The Brain Lair! Yay! I love how this can spread!
There’s always putting money in someone else’s meter. Especially in Cambridge.
Swipe someone else in on a pay t-pass (actually paying for them to pass).
Put together a small show or singing act at an elder care facility (could be caroling for the holidays)
Speaking of which, going caroling is always fun and might fall into the category of “random act of kindness” as it brings joy. I carol with a group who is non-demonimnational. We have a standard set of holiday songs not all of which are christian based and we rise to any happy challenges. We do a fantastic muppet version of Feliz Navidad. But I digress…
Volunteer some time at a local public library to read to kids
Help wrap packages with Toys for Tots
Sounds like a wonderful and ambitious idea.
Thanks for your great ideas Jo! No one would want to hear my singing voice, I’m afraid! But I will do the change in parking meters because I hate getting tickets for that and there’s a lot nearby where they always seem to target.
One more, because you got me thinking…pay a compliment to someone. Better the more specific and real it can be. Sometimes a “that dress is really lovely.” or “That hat is fantastic” (especially with some of the cool winter hats folks are sporting) can be small but mood-improving things. The act of doing it makes you smile, catching them by surprise with something nice, makes them smile…work done!
Hi Jo,
I LOVE those! Compliments are a great Random Act of Kindness! Thank you!
Great idea!! I’d love to do this too but my birthday is Monday and I’m 41. That’s a lot of ideas!! One thought I just had was to ask my three children to do 10 each along with 10 myself. My husband would only have to do 1! Hope to see all your ideas in January… Always can be useful! Happy bday!
Happy Birthday one day early Meg!!! I have 3 kids so I am definitely asking them to do as many as they can. Also my husband. And my family. Hopefully, we can make 48!
Thank you!! We’ll see what we can come up with! They seem pretty daunted by the idea, I was surprised by that but maybe it won’t be as hard as we think! I said to do the 41 acts of kindness this week…it’s the last week of school!
Hi Meg,
Jo had a great idea: compliments. Sincere compliments to make someone smile. That is a nice way of thinking of Random Acts of Kindess and easy to pull off!
Or better yet, my husband and I can do 10 each and the kids 7 each!
Hi Meg,
Yes! I’d love to get the kids involved though mine are so busy and my birthday is on a school day. I guess I can count the weekends before and after for them to do random acts of kindness. I think they would love the printouts. They might need a visual.
I really think it is important that each one of us do at least one random act of kindness each day.
Hi Bilal,
You are so right! That is the conclusion I am drawing after trying to do 48 acts of random kindness over a month period. It’s not difficult to do one or two a day but I found that I had to be mindful to find the opportunity to do an act of kindness.
It’s going well! I asked for 41 acts of kindness for my birthday week from my kids and husband, and we were writing them down until Christmas came. I think we got to around 30 written down. Even though we don’t yet have 41, there have been some observed but not written and I notice the kids are particularly focused on it, shouting out, “That was an act of kindness!!” I hope we can just keep it going now. Having them focused on being kind is so great!! Hope your birthday goes well!! 🙂
Thanks Meg,
I love that your kids are willing participants and can appreciate an act of kindness. My kids don’t mind doing acts of kindness but have refused to do it for my birthday because I am blogging on it. They say that it negates the point. I disagree, but what can you do? They prefer to pool their allowance to buy me a gift. I think I want to trade my kids for yours!
Ha! Mine refused at first too, until we started making the list and they found it easy to do, but its driven by the five year old (probably her age, 3rd child/only girl!). #shewillbeheard warm wishes!
Hi Meg,
Ah, I need to make a list for them to see if there are any they will begrudgingly do! The did like putting coins in parking meters. Maybe playing Fairy Godmother with small change is the key! I wanted to put quarters at the local laundromat too.