“Karma.” “You reap what you sow.” “What goes around comes around.” We all know the meaning to these expressions is mutual: the actions you take today could very well influence your future situation. In writing “Project Kindness” for the May/June issue of Her Voice, an article about carrying out random acts of kindness to people in my community in an effort to spark people to pay it forward, I never expected to feel rewarded in return. The recipients’ smiles were heartwarming; their surprised faces a pure delight to see. This was all the reassurance I needed to see that my mission was accomplished.

Those acts and the publication of that issue of Her Voice seemed to trigger a few thoughtful deeds in the community. A “Letter to the Editor” in the Yankton Daily Press & Dakotan caught my eye. Someone was thanking the kindhearted person who paid for supper for her and her family at a restaurant and assured she would “pay it forward.” I received a touching phone message from a stranger. A Her Voice reader enjoyed my story and wanted to let me know that she felt like she found a new friend. Thrilled by the compliment, I saw it the other way around as I was the one who gained a friend. Inspired to do her own random act of kindness, my mom bought coffees for our office on National Coffee Day. What a great way to celebrate!

The happy responses to my pay it forward efforts stuck with me. I began to crave kindness like I do coffee; for those of you who know me know that this is serious stuff. I enjoyed seeing people happy and wanted to make that a part of my day, every day and I didn’t want to stop trying to continue the trend. Several people helped me in gathering food and supplies for the Yankton Humane Society. I sent out thank you notes to some special people in my life, baked goods for fundraisers, held doors open, doled out smiles and compliments as much as possible. My senses gradually became more and more attentive to the opportunities to be helpful.

It’s so easy to get caught up in the hurry and scurry of the daily shuffle, but if you can pause for a minute and take in what is going on around you, there is an abundance of kindness. People hold doors open for others; folks smile, wave and chat with strangers and employees while shopping; school bus drivers wave cheerfully; businesses hold food and coat drives; donations are made to various fundraisers and motorists often move over in busy traffic to let others in. We really live in a great community, full of considerate, kindhearted people. We are lucky.

The acts of kindness stories that people shared with me in the months after my article are what truly warmed my soul. I heard of various acts performed: extra tips to the baristas at the coffee shop, providing food for a homeless person, buying lunch for a soldier, taking some time during a coffee stop to listen to a lonely gentleman’s story, sending cards to friends and neighbors to let them know they’re cared about, donating money to the Salvation Army and donating toys to the Toys for Tots program. Others took time to help ring the bell with the Salvation Army, donated Christmas gifts to a family in need, helped the Big Friend/Little Friend Program, helped pay for someone’s groceries when they were short cash, sent random Christmas cards to recovering soldiers at an Army Medical Center.

As our lives return back to normal after the rush of the holiday season leaves our heads, we cram the holiday decorations back into their totes and settle back in to the comfort of the humdrum daily routine. We swear we’ll start a new diet and exercise program on Monday, after we finish off this last batch of delicious Christmas fudge. New Year’s Resolutions are fresh in our minds; if you haven’t made one yet surely you’ve thought about it or have been asked if you’ve considered anything. There’s the usual resolutions, eat right, exercise, quit smoking, save money, stress less, play more. How about trying a resolution that can help you and others at the same time? Call it “Resolution Kindness.” Consider performing one small random act of kindness every single day. Sound overwhelming? Why not try it for a few days. Those days might turn into weeks, those weeks spread out to months and before you know it you’ve poured your kindness into a full year! I’m committed to give this a try for my new year’s resolution. I’ve scoured the internet for hundreds of kind acts, from the effortless to those requiring a bit of time or a just a little money. Optimistic, I am hopeful that I will stick with this one much longer than previous resolutions, at least until April.

Simple actions like paying someone a compliment, smiling or talking to a stranger, saying thank you, letting someone cut in line, holding the door open for someone or fully listening with no distractions to more challenging deeds like sending cards or notes, paying for someone’s coffee or lunch, calling loved ones, donating time or even money where needed can make a huge impact on someone else’s day. Their spirits uplifted, they pay it forward by doing a good deed for someone else and this continues as the compassion becomes contagious. Imagine the effects if a kindness outbreak swept through the community, and then further beyond.

A cup of coffee for a stranger, a note for a former teacher, a smile, a hug, a gentle touch; one simple act of kindness can do so much. Blessings come in packages of all shapes and all sizes and can answer someone’s prayers. May your acts of kindness warm your heart as much as it will theirs.