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 admit it; I feel vulnerable. I do feel reluctant to share. On the other hand, I like taking the time to recognize kindnesses of all sorts that come my way.

Here are some ways that people were kind to me this week.

More Kind Prayers

If you’re a regular reader, you know that my sister-in-law is hospitalized for Covid-19. She had to finish her cancer treatment before she could get her first vaccine dose. Readied for her final booster, she contracted Covid-19 instead. She’s been in the hospital most of January and it looks like she’ll be there another month. Although not on a respirator, she struggles. So many people pray for her daily, that I’m sure God will give in due to sheer exhaustion. “Enough, already,” I can almost hear him say. “Request granted.”

My brother-in-law sent me this picture. It warms my heart and brings a tear to my eye at the same time.

Kind Thank Yous

“It’s my pleasure.” I love playing my flute as part of the church choir. Contributing is a gift all by itself. Still, when someone stops to say thank you, it means so much to me.

Kind Accomodations

I don’t know about you, but I’m still worried about catching COVID-19. As time goes by, people become a lot more relaxed about mitigation. There are, what I want to believe, a recalcitrant few who make enforcement of mask requirements a scary proposition. Where I live, the positivity rate is high and the hospitals are strained. (I’m resigned to never understanding anger about simple measures to protect each other.) Anyways, Loved-One and I are a bit hermit-like while we wait for the numbers to improve.

We happily watched Mr. C progress to the next karate belt level because Sensai insists everyone wear a mask. As it turned out, when CeCi asked Sensai if she enforced the mask mandate, she thought we objected to masking. When she realized it was just the opposite, she went a step beyond and reserved a place for us next to the air purifier. I really appreciate her sensitivity.

The official Random Act of Kindness Day is February 17. 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.