Spreading Kindness All Year Long
As the holidays approach, many of us feel a nostalgic urge to pay it forward and spread a little kindness. The atmosphere of giving more of yourself is one of the things that makes the holiday season special.
But what about during the rest of the year? Is kindness as easy to come by? If you scroll online, check social media, or even listen to the news regularly, it’s easy to feel disheartened by the constant negativity and meanness that seems to pervade society. Most people are looking out for #1, and don’t seem to care much about sharing small niceties with others.
Simple Acts of Kindness
In the popular movie based on the novel Pay It Forward, a young boy performs three small acts of kindness for people in need, with the only expectation that the recipients will continue the cycle by doing three small deeds for someone else. The premise is that one small act of kindness can start a ripple effect, prompting others to extend their hands and hearts to those around them.
So many people get stuck thinking that in order to “pay it forward,” they must have something substantial to give. The thing is, paying it forward isn’t just about leaving a $200 tip for a waitress or paying for the person behind you at the drive-thru. It can come down to simple, heartfelt generosity.
Letting someone know they were helpful, complimenting someone on how they look, or saying “thank you” and meaning it, are small but meaningful gestures of kindness. Instead of complaining to a manager about a waitress, take a moment to praise someone for a job well done. Hold the door for someone, or return a grocery cart for a mom shopping with kids. Leaving a sweet card in the mailbox of an elderly neighbor or someone having a rough time are other examples. Instead of sending a complaint to a company that let you down, try penning a note to a company that provided excellent service.
Far too often, we forget that our words and smiles can also be used for good. If you see someone who seems to be having a rough day—like a mother in a grocery store dealing with a toddler tantrum—offer a gentle pat on the shoulder or say a kind word to let them know they’re not alone, rather than scowling or rolling your eyes. A phone call to a family member or old friend, a thank-you note to your child’s teacher, a kind email to a local business, or even a simple hug are easy and FREE ways to spread kindness. If you find a penny on tails, rather than picking it up, turn it over so the next person finds it heads up, and feels like it’s their lucky day. If you see trash in a parking lot, instead of stepping over it and cursing the person who left it, pick it up and put it in the trashcan.
The best part about deciding to pay it forward and spread kindness every day is that it will make you feel better about the world. Mother Teresa once said, “Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living example of God’s kindness. Kindness in your eyes, kindness in your face, kindness in your smile.” While we can’t control everything in the world, we can control how we make others feel. We have the choice to decide how we react, how we treat others, and whether we see the world as a self-serve buffet or as an arena to spread kindness every chance we get.
Prominent psychologists and sociologists agree that practicing small acts of kindness regularly has a soothing effect on the human soul. When we do for others without expecting anything in return, we plant seeds of love and kindness that will grow. Many ancient teachings and religions believe our lives are like an echo, and whatever we give in this world eventually comes back to us.
Obviously, the motivation for giving shouldn’t be selfish. We can’t walk around with a fake facade of goodness, hoping to create a karmic cloud of luck for ourselves. But we can make a conscious effort to always find the kind solution and act upon it. Not only will we positively impact others’ lives, but we’ll also sleep better at night, knowing that we did what we could to make the world a happier place.
Tell us: What have you done to ‘pay it forward’? Or how has your life been impacted by a random act of kindness?
