My family began practicing Random Acts of Kindness way back when my kids were teens. Now they have teens. This year, I decided to make RAKs my focus. With a twist.
CoCo received a beautiful Act of Kindness this year. The train conductor on her short commute surprised her with a generous Christmas Gift. She smiled for weeks with wonderment and told everyone she knew about the conductor’s kindness. However, I initially responded with suspicion. After a bit of reflection, I remembered an observation I got from a friend.
You are a much better giver than a receiver. It takes some humbleness to receive without the intention of paying back.
My dear friend, Nancy S (circa, 1980)
So with that in mind, I am devoting 2022 to recognizing kindness given. I noticed something this week. My effort to recognize the kindness of others helps me remember to be kind, too. I’m benefitting from the kindness of others. Now that I think about it, so are others.
Kindness from a Kindergarten
I’m constantly watching calories, trying to exercise more, and hoping my efforts will result in weight loss. Imagine my surprise when a kindergarten boy noticed his teacher’s weight loss.
“Miss H,” Little Boy said. “Are you getting thinner?”
“Thank you for noticing,” said Miss H.
“You look really nice.”
We all like a compliment. Children are so unflinchingly honest, that’s it can be refreshing to have all that honesty come out in a kind compliment. Little Boy’s kindness surely reflects a home filled with positive reinforcement.
A Kind Invitation
Sometimes little things mean a lot. Miss S sent me a text inviting me to attend her track meet this afternoon. Her dad, Wrestler #1, keeps a shared calendar with all the kids’ activities, so I can just look there to see what she’s up to. That little personal touch really means a lot to me.
Kindness reconsidered
This week someone told me a story that contained these words, “That’s not who I want to be.” She caught herself being less than kind. She wasn’t being unkind to someone. She was unkind about someone. And, she went beyond that recognition, to taking action to set things right. And, she promised herself, and me, that she planned to make a concerted effort to be kinder in her thoughts, words, and deeds. Now, that’s a kindness worth noting.
The official Random Act of Kindness Day is February 17. But RAKing can go on all year long. Visit the Website here. “The work to create a kinder world never ends. There is no limit on the amount of goodness we can put into the world..”
Use the hashtags #MakeKindnessTheNorm #RAKday #RandomActsofKindnessDay. Most importantly, “In a world where you can be anything…Be kind.” (And be willing to receive the kindness offered.)
I’ll be watching through my rose-colored glasses for opportunities to give a RAK. And I’ll have my antennae up ready to recognize when I get a RAK or see one.