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 a change in myself. 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.
I began to think I would have no Acts of Kindness to report this week. To be fair, I stayed home for the most part. It’s difficult to recognize kindness when the only one I see is Love-One. He’s kind to be all the time.
Brotherly kindness
I’m traveling to visit Mom as she recovers from minor back surgery. I love traveling on AMTRAK. i can do things that I cannot do while I’m driving. Like write this post. Still, I must rely on the kindness of siblings to pick me up at the station. Mom lives in a rural area, free from UBER, LYFT, and taxis. The train station and most stores will be closed by the time I get there. Even the nearest bar is a good mile or more away.
So my brother will drag himself out, meet me at the station, and deposit me at Mom’s. It’ll be late. That’s the kind of kindness no one should take for granted, not even a big sister.
Kindness from a Grandchild
Just when I began to feel comfortable with the older grandchildren having better things to do than visit with granny, I got a call from Miss E.
“Would you like to come to my graduation on Sunday?” She asked. We just got word that 2 more tickets became available and I thought of you.”
OMGoodness! Of course. You don’t have to ask me twice.
Kindness in the news
I didn’t witness this one. Still, it’s certainly worth repeating. A pair of earrings and $100 isn’t really all that much in the grand scheme of things. And yet, an act of kindness like this can have a ripple effect that lasts a lifetime.
Raegan Richins and her little sister, Rylyn, were heading back to their home in La Grange, Kentucky, after a family outing in 2019 when they spotted a number of “Just Be Kind” signs posted in yards along the country road they were traveling down. For the two girls — who have two sisters with Down syndrome — the signs struck a nerve.
PEOPLE, May 12, 2022
“We have siblings with special needs,” Raegan, 13, tells PEOPLE, “and we both felt that people sometimes weren’t as kind to them as they should be.”
Reagan and Rylyn began to make signs to remind people to be kind. They hoped to sell 65 and donate the proceeds to charity. The two sisters have sold thousands. Read more here.
It doesn’t take much to be kind. Even holding a door open for someone can lighten someone’s heart.
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.