Anyone who has taken a scroll through one of the social media platforms has likely seen more than one video of a person doing an act of kindness for another. Whether it was returning some dropped money or literally giving them a house, these are heartwarming moments demonstrating the true beauty of humanity. Despite how present these videos might be, they never fail to stir up a reaction out of the audience. They are captivating and leave the viewer feeling compassionate, inspired, and more considerate of those around them. Overall, it is a somewhat infectious array of emotions which are easy to empathize with. On top of this, any random act of kindness has the ability to leave a much larger impact than one might anticipate. Cartoonist Scott Adams spoke to this, “Remember there’s no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end.”
All this being said, random acts of kindness are not reserved solely for popularity on social media. Anyone and everyone can participate and make another person’s day. This is why we connected with a few individuals to understand a few random acts of kindness to practice year-round.
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Make courtesy a habit
Georgie Dorfman is the CEO of All My Love, a brand offering clothing items designed around individuality. She believes intentional good manners can really make a difference in another person’s day.
“When is the last time you can remember someone holding the door open for you or looking you in the eye when they thank you for something? These are things that were staples in our society at one point and have fallen by the wayside. Now, then these things take place, people respond in welcome surprise and are quick to appreciate the gesture. It really doesn’t take much effort other than remembering to do either of these things so I think everyone should make courtesy a habit. You can really brighten the days of those around you. ”
Volunteer
Oak & Eden specializes in a variety of whiskey products. Their CMO, Brad Neathery, suggests setting aside time specifically to be used to benefit others.
“Holidays have a tendency to be the time of year when people are in a giving mood and lend their time in a volunteer capacity to those in need or providing assistance to those in need. But those needs do not go away simply because the holidays aren’t around. In fact, with not as many people volunteering, the need is greater. No matter what time of year it is, there are a myriad of volunteer options in your area which can leave receipts with a smile on their face while assisting the group or organization responsible for putting the help together. There may be nothing random about planning a time to help others but it is an act of kindness.”
Write to someone
The chaos of day-to-day life is sometimes overwhelming to the point where personal interactions get forgotten. RoseSkinCo. is a business providing electronic beauty products for skin. Their director of communications, Gia Maria Jurosky, considers taking the time to send a message to a person in one’s life can be uplifting.
“In some ways, technology has changed the way we interact. The amount of time we spend communicating in person is drastically lower than the generations that have come before us. A side effect of this is that people are not as personable in their texting or other communications. Many interactions are simply that – interactions. There’s nothing of substance. We can easily combat this by sending a message to someone close to us communicating care, trust, belief, and more. It’s not often that people hear words like this in any setting so to be surprised by them from a friend or family member is always a beautiful moment,”
Buy for the person behind
Gigi Ji is the head of brand and business development of Kokolu, a brand offering sustainably sourced tote bags. She advises others to follow the tried and true method of paying it forward.
“I’m sure everyone has heard a story or knows someone who has experienced a stranger paying for their food in the drive thru or covering for them at the gas station. A random act of kindness like this one generally leaves a lasting impact. The items you’re paying for don’t matter. It’s about showing someone that they’re important, worthwhile, and deserve to smile just a little bit more. From a cup of coffee to a restaurant bill, there are endless opportunities for you to put this into action.”
Give blood
An act of kindness that one may already be performing but could be improved upon is tipping. 8 Sheep Organics is a business providing naturally sourced pregnancy products. Their co-founder, Dawn Kendall, proposes this approach.
“Some people might get extremely squeamish at just the thought of giving blood to a drive or bank. I get it. Blood seems like one of those things that should stay inside the body at all times. However, there is a huge demand for it at almost all times and so regardless of your blood type, I believe that it’s noble for someone to give of themselves physically. Obviously, it’s not something you can do every other day, but when you’re physically able it could literally save a life even if it leaves you a little light headed.”
Leave a tip
Adamson Ahdoot Law, LLP specializes in legally representing injured clients. Their founder and partner, Alan Ahdoot, believes that the need for, and nature of, blood makes it a very gracious act when donated.
“Tipping the people who work in the service industry is just the norm for us. We don’t even think about it until the receipt comes and it’s gone from our minds after that. But if you’ve ever been in the shoes of a service person, you know that one good tip can turn the worst shift upside down. It doesn’t even have to make a waiter happy. Even just a few extra dollars really encourages those who are responsible for making your dining experience enjoyable.”
Donate items
Marcus Hutsen is the business development manager of Patriot Coolers, a brand offering high-quality food and drink storage which donates portions of the profits to military charity. He cautions others to be careful of letting items stockpile and waste away.
“In western society especially, we have so much stuff that we can’t even use it all. From clothes to toys and even some foods, there’s all this stuff that will go unused simply because it was forgotten or there’s not enough hours in the day. That being said, there are more than enough people out there who can put these items to use and would love to do so. It’s really easy to gather some extra stuff and bring it to your local donation center for people to make use of. It doesn’t cost you anything other than the time it’ll take.”
Give a random gift
Hush specializes in pain relief and healing acceleration for every stage of the tattoo process. Their CEO, Ubaldo Perez, considers a spontaneous present to be a brilliant act of kindness.
“It doesn’t matter what time of year it is, everyone loves receiving gifts. It’s one of the biggest draws for our birthdays and Christmas. But sometimes the best gifts are the unexpected ones. If you’ve ever been the recipient of one you know delight it can bring because of how thoughtful it is to give a random gift simply to give it. These don’t have to be big things either. Just give something from the heart.”
A random act of kindness may not be the spark that influences world peace but it could be the gesture that moves another person deeply. In many ways, kindness is a necessity for every human. Actor Josh Radnor summed this up, “It really shocks me when I encounter people who think kindness doesn’t matter. Because I think it’s pretty much the only thing that matters.”
