February 17th is Random Acts of Kindness Day 2018. The smallest gesture can make a huge difference to someone's day. Just a little effort on your part can cheer an unhappy person up or boost their self-esteem. And what's more, they'll then feel more inclined to be nice to someone else. So be a better person and make a difference to someone's on Random Acts of Kindness Day …
1 Smile! It Will Make Everyone Happy
A smile is infectious, so smile at everyone you meet during your day. It doesn't have to be a massive smile, just a friendly grin. Honestly, people will love it, especially shop workers who are used to being treated like they don't have feelings. So when you get on a bus or buy your coffee, smile at the driver or barista. It'll feel good for you as well.
Frequently asked questions
2 Let the Other Person Be Right
Even if you think that someone is wrong, it can be nice to let them feel that they are in the right. Say someone cuts in front of you in a traffic queue. Rather than gesture and sound the horn, let it pass. You don't know what's going on in their life; they may be having a bad day and not thinking about what's right. Letting it pass will avoid making their day any worse than it already is.
3 Stand up for Them
If you see someone being treated badly or called names in public, stand up for them. Too often people are reluctant to intervene because they think it is none of their business. But standing up for someone shows that there are people who support them and think that bullying is wrong.
4 Send Them a Thank You Message
Of course we should be able to expect good service. But if you receive particularly good service, write to the company and praise the person who served you. Many jobs are poorly paid, and hearing compliments from a customer will help compensate a little. Positive feedback also helps the company as a whole, as they know what customers like and what works for them.
5 Compliment Them
Most of us aren't that good at accepting compliments, so try saying something nice to someone today. The more that we compliment each other, the more we'll get used to it. It's lovely to receive a sincere compliment!
6 Make Them Laugh
Laughter is so good for us, so try to make someone laugh. It'll brighten their day, so point out something funny, tell a joke or send them a funny video (which they can then pass on to someone else to make them laugh as well!).
7 Chat to Someone Who's Lonely
There are plenty of lonely people around, especially older people. Chat to a neighbor or older person who doesn't get out much. You could volunteer to befriend an elderly person who's housebound or in a residential home. Or share a table with an older person in a café.
8 Praise & Encourage Their Efforts
It can also make a difference to someone's day if you praise their efforts and achievements. Perhaps they're feeling dispirited that something they're doing isn't going as well as they'd hoped. Be their cheerleader and give them some encouragement.
9 Random Acts of Kindness
We've all heard of random acts of kindness, but how many of us have practised them or been on the receiving end of one? There's something very heart-warming about knowing that a stranger wanted to do something nice for you without even knowing you, or wanting anything in return.
