Random Acts of Kindness

While February is often thought of for Valentine’s Day, there are many other very important national holidays that should be celebrated just as widely, if not more so. In the spirit of love and caring, I wanted to talk about a holiday that is dear to my heart. You may be familiar with some famous quotes such as,

“Be the change you wish to see in the world.” – Ghandi

or

“A life lived for others is the only life worth living.” – Albert Einstein

These quotes reflect the ideals of National Random Acts of Kindness Day. This idea is nationally celebrated in a single day, on February 17th to bring awareness to the movement, but the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation celebrates this occasion as a weeklong event, spreading awareness to thousands of other non-profit organizations as well as several small and large businesses across the country. I’ve read many of the stories on the foundation’s website and gathered that the idea of a random act of kindness is not only for grandiose gestures that require time and money, but also for small acts from the heart. Some of the stories were as simple as asking a woman how she was doing when everyone else ignored her, and some of them were as thorough as collecting money from the community to buy supplies for the homeless.

In this world, there is not enough love and kindness going around. I think that some people lose track of the good in our society because of constant negativity surrounding the media. What a beautiful idea it is to bring some light to someone’s day simply by holding a door for them, asking them how their day is, or maybe even paying for a stranger’s lunch. Giving a little bit of your time or effort to another human being not only gives them some joy, but also gives you a sense of accomplishment.

To me, going out of my way to help someone else not only makes me feel accomplished, but also humble. Doing for others out of the goodness of your heart really allows you to consider the fact that we are all people, no matter what class, race, or gender, and no one is above or exempt from generosity. This year, we encourage all our employees and patients alike to go out there and perform acts of kindness all day. Once you feel how wonderful it feels to help others, I can almost guarantee you will want to make it your new lifestyle. As Mark Twain once said, “kindness is a language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.” So please carry this message in your heart not just on February 17th, but on every day of the year because respect and compassion never go out of style!

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