With an ever-changing world around us, one thing we can count on is being surrounded by kindness and compassion in our community. When we get lost in the confusion and uncertainty of what lies beyond our door, we lose sight of the kindness that remains right around us. We truly are blessed to live in a community that always comes together to help each other.

Random Acts of Kindness Week, February 11-17, reminds us that even the smallest act of kindness can create an enormous reaction of gratitude. Being kind to others doesn’t need to cost you anything more than an encouraging attitude and a heart for helping someone. What might take a few seconds of your time might brighten someone’s entire day. Continue practicing these kind acts and you might find that it will naturally become a habit, part of who you are. Kind acts are abundant, here are some ideas to get you started on your mission.

Be kind to others:

• Tutor a child
• Ask a senior about their past
• Compliment someone
• Text/email someone a kind message
• Leave uplifting notes where others can find them
• Invite someone to join an event with you
• Compliment someone in person or social media or leave a positive comment on someone’s blog
• Focus on the person you’re visiting with and keep your phone tucked away during the visit
• Give someone a handwritten note of appreciation
• Avoid being judgmental, you don’t know the other person’s situation
• Reach out to someone
• Babysit or pet sit for a friend or neighbor
• Help someone who is sick or having a hard time
• Smile at others. Be polite and friendly
• Check in on your elderly neighbors
• Shovel snow from neighbor’s sidewalk when clearing yours
• Wheel out your neighbor’s trash bin
• Leave a token of appreciation for your mail carrier or garbage service
• Leave quarters at a laundromat

Be kind to your community:

• Eat and shop locally to support farmers and small businesses
• Buy local, raw honey
• Plant a garden and share your bounty with others
• Be polite to others while driving
• Help with local school/church/club fundraisers
• Cheer on the local school’s sports team
• Volunteer for or donate to a local organization
• Leave a positive review for a local business on social media
• Leave a generous tip for your server
• Pick up after your pet

Acts of kindness aren’t limited to people.

You can also be kind to animals:

• Walk or play with a neighbor’s pet
• Volunteer at a local animal shelter
• If you’re looking for a pet, foster one or adopt one
• Donate to a local animal shelter. Paper towels, cleaning supplies and used blankets are some ideas
• Respect wildlife – don’t disrupt their habitat

You can also be kind to our environment:

• Pick up trash or organize a clean-up
• Recycle as many items as possible
• Plant a tree or plant flowers that support wildlife
• Hang clothes to dry
• Use a re-useable water bottle or travel mug
• Turn off your computer overnight
• Reduce paper usage