The next few days of kindness aren’t any big sweeping gestures, but I’d like to think they stand for something. Best of all, most are acts anyone can do anytime. So what’s stopping you?
12/12 – This was the one of the most simple I have done yet, but the person on the other end was easily the most grateful. What was the act? It was a packed house in McDonald’s and there was a family waiting behind me. You can probably guess what happens next. I simply turned around and said, “You can go ahead of me.” At first, the mom looked at me like I was crazy, but after I assured her I am quite sane, she gladly ushered her family up the line. The look of appreciation on her face was unforgettable and honestly really cool for such a small act of kindness.
12/13 – This is a repeat random act of kindness, just with a different person. I wrote a letter to my dad, telling him how glad I am that he is in my life. It was particulary good timing since he had a rough day (not that I am happy for that part). I took this act one step closer by reading the letter aloud to him on the phone. Yes, I felt slightly dorky but the reaction in return made up for it.
12/14 – This was a particulary rough date with the events of the Sandy Hook tragedy breaking the news throughout the day. Us teachers were feeling the shockwaves and emotions that words cannot describe. I could not go without an act of kindness for the victims and survivors, but that blog post comes on a later day. For this one, even when I wanted to curl up in bed and cry, I put on a brave face and volunteered time at my own school’s winter night-time event. After all, shouldn’t I be grateful that I can spend every second I can with my own special students?
12/15 – Are you stuck on a random act of kindness that you can do on a busy (and broke) day? Try what I did on this day, and write an email to a family member that you haven’t talked to in awhile. The best is when it is for no reason at all except to let someone know you are thinking of him.
12/16 – Here’s another easy and fun one. I was in desperate need of chocolate, so I high-tailed it to my nearest vending machine for my coveted treat. After experiencing the joy that only chocolate can give, I decided to share the love. I put another dollar in the machine and walked away without making a purchase (as tempting as it was to buy round two). Maybe the person who found it thought it was just an accident, but it is fun imagining someone’s happy reaction when he or she realizes there is a free treat in store.
What do you think of these little acts? Stay tuned for my favorite one yet in the next post.
The Random Act of Kindness 