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, but 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.

So, here are some ways that people were kind to me this week.

Making way

Have you ever been in a crowd and just wanted to get somewhere slightly different than where the crowd seened to be taking you?

That happened to me this week. Upon leaving Mr. R2’s basketball game, I really wanted the security of the stairway banister. Kind Gentleman noticed and made way with this comment: “I know how you feel. I prefer to hold the banister, too.” To tell the truth, I’ve been a stumbler since toddlerhood, so the banister has always been a good idea for me. Even so, I appreciate Kind Gentleman’s yielding kindness without condescension.

This week, I included a couple of kindnesses I observed. I felt the kindness even though the gesture was not directed at me.

Kind Letter

My niece Lisa took the time to write CoCo a sweet letter acknowledging CoCo’s Christmas card and update letter. Writing a thank you for a letter or card is an unusually kind gesture. I’ve prepped CoCo no to expect a thank you for a card. Still, she lives alone and looks forward to greeting the mailman every day, even though she rarely gets a letter.

Kind Signs

I saw this “Reader Submission” in the paper this morning. It only takes a moment to be kind. Sometimes it takes a little more effort. Vicky let FirtInstitute know how their sign brought her joy.

And sometimes that kindness ripples and infects many people. That’s what happened when FirstInstitute changed their sign. I’m sure they hoped to tickle Vicky. They tickled her husband and her coworkers and me, too. I hope the ripples of kindness reach beyond you.

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.