May 15th, 2008 in Lifestyle

29 Ways to Carry Out Random Acts of Kindness Every Day

Smile image at Live8

The time has come when we cannot just rely on others to make the world a better place – each one of us has to do our bit.

It is therefore time for people to be more and more aware about their Personal Social Responsibility (PSR).

PSR is all about doing to others what you would like others do to you. It is about recognizing how your behaviour affects others, and holding yourself accountable for your actions. For example, contrast someone being well mannered and kind, with someone being rude.

And this brings me nicely to the theme of this post – being kind to others.

Kindness is contagious – and as part of Personal Socially Responsibility you might want to consider carrying out random acts of kindness on a daily basis.

It is truly a win/win/win situation. The person you are being kind to benefits through your help. You feel good for having helped someone. And the world is a better place through your kindness.

Never underestimate the impact of a single act of kindness. I still remember, after many years, the time someone stopped and helped me after my car had broken down down. Since then, I have stopped on the road myself and helped stranded motorists a number of times. All because of that single act of kindness by a stranger.

Also, it is important to carry out your acts of kindness without expecting anything back.

So where do you begin?

To get you started, I have listed 29 ideas below. And why the number 29? Because it is as good a number as any – and also because I couldn’t think of idea number 30!

Put them into practice and also create your own:-

  1. Send someone a hand written note of thanks.
  2. Make a card at home and send it to a friend for no reason.
  3. Buy a lottery ticket for a stranger.
  4. Put some coins in someone else’s parking meter.
  5. Buy a coffee for the man on the high street selling The Big Issue magazine.
  6. Cut your neighbour’s hedge.
  7. Walk your friend’s dog.
  8. Give a compliment about your waiter / waitress to his / her manager.
  9. Send someone a small gift anonymously.
  10. Stop and help someone replace their flat tyre.
  11. Let someone jump the queue at the bank.
  12. Pay for the drinks on the next table at a café.
  13. Treat a friend to the movies for no reason.
  14. Give a huge tip to someone when they least expect it.
  15. Hold the train door open for someone rushing to get in.
  16. Give up your seat for someone, not just an elderly person.
  17. Write notes of appreciation at least once a week.
  18. Talk to a homeless person and have a “normal” conversation.
  19. Pick up some rubbish in the road which would otherwise be lying around.
  20. Compliment a work colleague for their excellence.
  21. Recommend a competitor to a potential client.
  22. Give another driver your parking spot.
  23. Give a piece of fruit to a delivery person.
  24. Help an elderly neighbour carry the rubbish out.
  25. Tell all your family members how much your appreciate them.
  26. Leave a copy of an interesting book on a train / bus.
  27. Buy an inspirational book for a friend.
  28. Send a thank you note to a person who has helped you in the past.
  29. Smile a lot.

What goes around is sure to come around – happy helping :-)

Please apply these ideas in your life from today – and share your own ideas and how you get on with spreading kindness in the world in the comments. That way I won’t have to think up idea number 30 myself!

WRITER'S BIOGRAPHY

Arvind Devalia

Arvind Devalia is a performance coach, social entrepreneur, speaker and writer who aspires to live a life of contribution, connection and celebration. His blog “Make It Happen” focuses on making things happen in your life and the world.

His main books are “Get the Life you Love and Live it" and “Personal Social Responsibility”, both of which are available from Amazon.

To get Arvind’s FREE ebook “Make It Happen”, click here

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  • Vered says on May 15th, 2008 at 12:17 pm

    “Put some coins in someone else’s parking meter.”
    Someone once did it for me! It was an amazing experience. You walk out of an act like that feeling so good about the world, and life, and you just can’t help but do something nice to someone else. Kindness is contagious.

  • John Peden says on May 15th, 2008 at 4:18 pm

    Just like in the movie pay it forward! Its such a shame that you can’t do something for someone without them expecting something in return.

  • Bejron says on May 15th, 2008 at 11:43 pm

    I always return my parking ticket to the meter if I hanvn’t used the whole paid time. Put it in the ticketslot for someone else to use, simple and appreciated.

  • Amanda Himelein says on May 16th, 2008 at 12:25 am

    I buy $5 Starbucks Gift Cards and slip them into people’s bags & cars, or leave them lying on tables.

  • Nipun Mahajan says on May 16th, 2008 at 2:43 am

    “Recommend a competitor to a potential client.”

    That’s not kindness. That’s stupidity.

  • arvind says on May 16th, 2008 at 4:33 am

    Nipun – I can see why you think that could be madness buy you will be amazed by how much I have got back by recommending a “competitor” when the potential client was not suitable to be coached by me for various reasons.

    I have many reciprocal referrals in return. I always say that what you give out comes back to you manyfold.

  • Melanie Smits says on May 16th, 2008 at 5:48 am

    It’s such a shame that if you try many of these, people will first think you’re just a little creepy.

    >18.Talk to a homeless person and have a “normal” conversation.
    A homeless man started a conversation with me once, on the bus. I can say without a doubt that he’s the most interesting person I’ve ever met. I was smiling for days afterward, because everything he said was true. I recommend this one, though I’m sure there’s plenty of fruitcakes out there as well.

  • arvind says on May 16th, 2008 at 6:04 am

    Melanie – I have spoken to many homeless people in the past and as you say they are often the most interesting people around.

    Usually they have become homeless through some unfortunate circumstances and if you connect with them, they often have a lot of wisdom and life experiences to share.

    Outside my local supermarket there is a homeless guy who survives by selling “The Big Issue” magazine and as I speak to him so often, we are like friends now.

    We usually share some jokes and rather than buying the magazine every day, I get him a banana! And it makes my day.

    Ok, I don’t expect anything back and I would like to think I am doing this without wanting to “look good” but I do feel great afterwards :-)

  • Summer Fey Foovay says on May 16th, 2008 at 10:43 am

    That’s the great thing about random acts of kindness, arvind, you feel better for them, too! I’ve been the recipent of several of these ideas, and some of them are such a normal part of my life I don’t even think about it (talking to homeless people, picking up litter, leaving an interesting book to name the top three). Oh – I’ve got one to add – help out someone by cleaning their house for them (someone elderly, sick, with a new baby, or often who just doesn’t have time).

  • arvind says on May 16th, 2008 at 10:56 am

    Thanks for sharing that tip Summer – I am rapidly building up much more than just 29 tips!

    I must offer to clean out my sister’s messy room one of these days….

  • James says on May 16th, 2008 at 10:35 pm

    Pay the toll for the car behind you.

  • AJ says on May 17th, 2008 at 2:25 am

    Why is it that many of these comments/suggestions relate to money?

  • Waldir says on May 17th, 2008 at 6:31 am

    That’s a great list! This is probably a very long shot, but I was thinking about inserting each one of those ideas as daily tasks in my to-do list. There’s enough for one different act of kindness a month (and there will be always a couple of days left to be my old selfish me, hehehe). Hast anyone tried this yet?

  • Waldir says on May 17th, 2008 at 6:31 am

    BTW, why is my avatar picture a Lady? Not funny… :P

  • arvind says on May 17th, 2008 at 11:11 am

    AJ – I reckon that only 4 out of the 29 suggestions are actually related to money!

    Waldir – great idea to add these tips as tasks on your to-do list. You already have 29 and there have been some more great tips within the comments so you actually have 31 or more :-)

    I am going to try this myself. Maybe Waldir you have started something here :-)

  • Karim Baz says on May 20th, 2008 at 12:00 am

    This is a great post. Hopefully you’ll post a Part 2 with more posts. You can even post a Part 3, Part 4, Part 5…

  • Baskins says on May 22nd, 2008 at 3:12 pm

    Similar to James’ comment about paying the toll of the car behind you, for those feeling a little richer – pay for the food of the car behind you in the drive-thru.
    And my daddy (who’s been in retail for 30+ years) once told me “When it comes to customers, be knowledgeable enough to be a part of the solution to their request, even if it means sending them to a competitor. They’ll remember that and come back to you.”

  • Kate says on June 1st, 2008 at 11:01 pm

    (sending to a competitor) My mechanic won me over for life (or at least as long as I am living around here) when he told me that a certain repair was still covered under warranty and I should go to the dealer instead.

  • Arlan Berglas says on June 21st, 2008 at 8:38 am

    We are looking for Regional Directors for the Pass it On Movement. I would like to send interested parties some attachments for your review. We are in the process of putting together 101 board games, card games, puzzles and word search games, truth or dare games, challenge games all promoting the Pass It On Movement. Did you see the trailer from the movie Pass It On? You can see it on the http://www.ipassiton.org website.

    Arlan Berglas
    Director of Global Development
    We, The World
    http://www.wetheworld.org
    http://www.aunitedworld.org
    (818) 517-1007

  • Marie says on December 1st, 2008 at 11:15 pm

    These are great ways of giving and Spreading Joy! Thanks for the encouragement. I love that you have some free ways as well as some ways that actually “cost” us.

  • Adam says on December 2nd, 2008 at 6:31 pm

    There is a great children’s book that helps parents teach their children the importance of kindness. It is called “Other People’s Shoes”

    Check it out! http://www.eloquentbooks.com/o.....shoes.html

  • Jacson says on February 9th, 2009 at 11:52 pm

    Hello. My name is jacson. I have read about your writings after see the video rainbow warriors in the internet. And a lot of i ve seen true now is acsacly wath i tell to others true mayan calendar. Thanks for your love and please send me your birthdate so i can help some more. I help people with calendar. Maybe someinteresting can happen from this… nothing is coincidence in my life. my e mail is jacsoncorreiatulum@hotmail.com

  • Helen says on March 21st, 2009 at 11:38 am

    I like Summer Fey Foovay post from May 16th, 2008 at 10:43 am “Oh – I’ve got one to add – help out someone by cleaning their house for them (someone elderly, sick, with a new baby, or often who just doesn’t have time).”

    I wish someone would often this to us… We are excepting a new baby in May 2009 and we have a toddler. Just can’t seam to get the office cleared out.

    Just the other day a couple was at my favorite restaurant while my daughter and I were there. I ordered Mushroom dumplings with had 4 in the order. They sound interesting in try them, so I gave them 2.

  • becky says on April 20th, 2009 at 6:53 pm

    wow, those ideas are great! i’m in high school, and just got the idea today to start a random acts of kindness club. my friend’s sister belongs to a similar club in college, and i thought it was so neat. they heat up hot cocoa in the winter and give it out to people, and put out pennies, heads up around campus.
    i think we’re too caught up with our lives to truly appreciate kindness, and maybe a club might help remedy this.

  • Arvind Devalia says on April 21st, 2009 at 11:19 am

    Thanks Becky for sharing about random act of kindness clubs – what a great idea!

    Good luck :-)

  • jo says on May 19th, 2009 at 7:22 pm

    hi.
    i’m going this topic for my ‘persuasive speech’ in english.
    great idea.

  • givesmehope.com says on August 20th, 2009 at 2:22 pm

    I have another idea :D
    Go to http://www.operationbeautiful.com and start spreading out post-its with encouraging messages on them! It’s so uplifting – I always carry a pad of post-its with me.
    Or, join http://www.secretagentlinpgh.blogspot.com/ and become a secret agent!

  • Arvind Devalia says on August 27th, 2009 at 1:34 pm

    Thanks for sharing those two wonderful ideas – it shows how easy it really is to spread some kindness!

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