What if acts of kindness weren’t random?
It may be the shortest month of the year, but February is packed with importance.
First, it’s a month that is all about LOVE! Valentine’s Day is celebrated the world over as a day that we recognize love in all of its forms. It starts when we’re children. Exchanging valentines is always a highlight of the school year.
It was always fun for me with my daughter and then granddaughters to talk about what their theme would be from year to year. It wasn’t hard with my daughter, though. She was pretty standard with her choice of all things Pooh Bear! Even now, with daughters of her own!
But my granddaughters have ranged from puppies to princesses to Batman! And everything in between.
But February also holds other special times of recognition. Some American history is there, but it is also a time when we celebrate random acts of kindness. I was thinking about why we focus on kindness being random. Why not intentional? And so, I did a bit of research. And, as I might have expected, it all started with a book.
The phrase “practice random kindness and senseless acts of beauty” came first from Anne Herbert in 1982. She was responding to another saying that had become all too common about random acts of violence and senseless acts of cruelty. She started a movement with a placemat that eventually became the subject of a children’s book published in February 1993.
Her vision was about turning the tide from violence to kindness. And, for lasting change, she started with the children. Always a good place to begin.
She hoped that the idea of random acts of kindness would bring people together and create a stronger sense of support within our communities. When people see others performing acts of kindness, they are often inspired to do the same, creating a chain reaction of generosity and compassion.
We’ve all witnessed this happen in communities facing difficult times, such as natural disasters, economic hardship, or political unrest. In these situations, acts of kindness can bring people together and provide hope and comfort, even where there is diversity.
Yes, her vision has proven to be true. We can now see it every day. It’s always there.
But what if acts of kindness became even just a bit less random? What if they became a standard way of navigating our way through our day? What if it became the habit of kindness instead of random acts?
As I looked at what we see now as random and thought about how those relate to our everyday lives, I found three ways we can begin moving from random to habit when we express kindness.
Practice gratitude. I believe all good things begin here. Take time each day to reflect on the people, experiences, and things we are thankful for in our lives. Those moments can help to foster a grounding in gratitude and a desire to share good with others.
Plan acts of kindness. Instead of waiting for opportunities to present themselves, plan specific acts of kindness. These acts can be as simple as regularly sending a card to a friend, volunteering somewhere, or donating other resources to a worthy cause.
Make it a family affair. Follow Anne Herbert’s example. Teach children the importance of kindness and encourage them to participate in acts of kindness. We can instill a sense of compassion and generosity in them that will stay with them throughout their lives.
The beauty is that we can all play a role in spreading kindness and making a positive difference in the lives of others.
By making kindness less random and more intentional, we can create a compassionate, supportive, and generous world.
“To touch someone with kindness is to change someone forever.” – Mike Dooley
