The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation (RAK), a non-profit organization founded upon the powerful belief in kindness and dedicated to providing resources and tools that encourage acts of kindness, hosts their weeklong, yearly celebration of kindness across the globe February 10 – 16, 2014. The immediate call for action during Random Acts of Kindness Week is solely for an individual to attempt a random act of kindness. That’s it! That’s the entire message.
Practicing kindness is more than just a nice thing to do; it’s also beneficial to overall well-being. Kindness is scientifically proven to boost health, happiness and societal goodwill. Like physical and academic skills, compassion appears to be something that is not fixed, but rather can be enhanced with training and practice. And best of all: kindness can illicit change in others because it is contagious.
Take this week to step out of your normal routine or comfort zone and attempt a new random act of kindness each day of the celebratory week. RAK has created unique and fun opportunities for every type of organization, group, team, family, or individual to become involved in one of the globe’s most generous weeks — where the goal is not a transfer of money, but rather, physical exchange of kindness. Here are some ideas to get you started:
Practicing kindness is more than just a nice thing to do; it’s also beneficial to overall well-being. Kindness is scientifically proven to boost health, happiness and societal goodwill. Like physical and academic skills, compassion appears to be something that is not fixed, but rather can be enhanced with training and practice. And best of all: kindness can illicit change in others because it is contagious.
Take this week to step out of your normal routine or comfort zone and attempt a new random act of kindness each day of the celebratory week. RAK has created unique and fun opportunities for every type of organization, group, team, family, or individual to become involved in one of the globe’s most generous weeks — where the goal is not a transfer of money, but rather, physical exchange of kindness. Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Just smile at one extra person.
- Eat lunch with someone new—at school, at the office or just out and about.
- Make sure to say I love you or give someone special an extra hug.
- Volunteer for a Special Olympics Team, coach a youth sports team or even referee for an hour on a recreational league.
- Take your kindness digital by downloading Kindr from the Apple App Store. Then brighten someone's day by sending a creative compliment, a hug or even a cute animal video.
- Try a new vegetable or fruit or even try and cook something healthy and new for you or your family.
- Attempt to park your car a little further away than normal as to provide that sweet spot for a pregnant lady, a person with special needs, an elderly person or someone who just needs a little more ease.
- Send a positive message to someone in need or help someone who might not need it, but appreciates it.
- Donate unwanted or unused clothes or household goods to a shelter, non-profit or animal rescue organization.
- If you feel you just must make a monetary contribution and are insistent, buy someone’s groceries or offer to help pay for someone in line.
Post and share your stories, photos, videos and ideas on social media channels using hashtags #RAKweek #RAKWeek2014 #dokindness #randomactsofkindness. If you need inspiration or more information, visit www.randomactsofkindness.org.
