Celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Day Every February 17

• By NSC
• 2 Comments.

February 17 is Random Acts of Kindness Day

In our busy lives its easy to forget to be kind to others. Now, we’re not generally being deliberately mean. But we’re not going out of our way to be kind either.

Enter Random Acts of Kindness Day. A day to engage in acts of kindness just because.

With just a small act of kindness you have the power to brighten someone’s day.

Maybe someone will unexpectedly brighten yours too!

Other countries also have Random Acts of Kindness Days. New Zealand celebrates on September 1. In fact, our day may have originated with New Zealand, where Josh de Jong, Marshal Gray, Megan Singleton and Reuben Gwyn started it in 2005.

It’s not clear how or when it spread to the United States.

But wherever it started, it’s a popular day. Humans feel good when we do something nice for others. And we should try to remember to do that more often. Everybody wins!

The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation doesn’t appear to be associated with this day. But it does celebrate International Random Acts of Kindness Week, celebrated around this same time.

Scroll down for some ideas on celebrating this unofficial holiday.

Ideas For Celebrating Random Acts of Kindness Day

Now surely you can figure out that you celebrate by performing random acts of kindness throughout the day?

But maybe you’re having trouble coming up with simple acts you can use to spread kindness. Here are a few ideas:

• While driving, let that car trying to change lanes get in front of you. You might just make that person’s day … Or at least their commute (I know I’m always grateful when someone lets me in instead of speeding up).
• Write a thank you note or a real letter. Yes, on paper. Remember to mail it. It’s always a pleasure to get snail mail that’s not bills or junk mail.
• You know those tip jars at coffeeshops? Put a tip in one (or more). It happens less than you might think.
• Pay the toll for the car behind you. Or pay for part/all of the order for the person behind you in the drive-thru.
• Listen to someone who needs to talk. Really listen.
• Hold the elevator or train door for someone running to catch it.
• And last, but certainly not least: Smile at everyone. Sometimes that’s all it takes. :)

What other random acts of kindness do you plan to do today? Share!