In the words of American writer Henry James: “Three things in human life are important: the first is to be kind; the second is to be kind; and the third is to be kind.”
February 17 is Random Acts of Kindness Day, a perfect time for all of us to do something good for somebody, and quite possibly inspire others to do the same. The day was created by the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation, a nonprofit, privately funded organization founded in 1995 and devoted to encouraging individuals, groups and communities to perform anonymous or not-so-anonymous acts of kindness.
And it’s so easy to be part of the celebration. Help someone with some yard work. Hold the door open for a stranger. Pick up litter by the side of the road. Pay the tab for the person behind you at the coffee shop. Give up your place in line for someone who seems hurried. Write a letter of thanks to a soldier serving overseas. Offer to buy some clothes or food for someone in need. Write a letter to a person who made a difference in your life. Drop in on a shut-in or elderly neighbor and just visit with them. Cover the rest of the bill for the person in front of you who came up just short. Or just smile at someone. For more ideas, visit randomactsofkindness.org.
When it comes to kindness, small acts can have large repercussions.