Spread Kindness: Bring Positive Ripples Into Someone's World

Photo by R. Boed via Flickr. Used under Creative Commons license.

Let's talk about kindness. It is one of the most meaningful and impactful gifts which humans can bestow one another. There are so many ways in which you can spread kindness that will cost you nothing but a bit of your time! As one of my friends was fond of saying, "We make ripples in this world with every choice we make, action we take. One of the biggest issues society faces is that we're not taking into account what impact our ripples, our decisions, have on those around us, those in our community, in the world. We need to fill this world with waves of positive action because it's all about the ripples, baby!"

So, why not spread more kindness? It's no secret that this world of ours is seriously in need of compassion and empathy both. Let's Be The Change!

• Give #FreeHugs! (I know, I KNOW! "but… but COVID!") Look… We all need reminders of the goodness that can be found in humanity if we just open our hearts and our minds. If you aren't comfortable with this idea, that's totally fine! Skip ahead to the next suggestion. My friends and I have gone out into our local communities as well as during special events in major cities and offered free hugs! You simply make a sign that says #FreeHugs and strangers will approach, ask what you're doing, and then inevitably ask for a hug. It's exactly what it sounds like. Maybe it sounds strange to some of you, but I cannot tell you how many wonderful encounters we've had over the years. Not to mention how many kindred spirits we've met. I think we all need these reminders from time to time!
• Write Notes of Kindness: Simply write up some positive affirmations/uplifting notes. Get out some Post Its or whichever blank paper you've got lying around (I've used construction paper, parchment, floral seed paper, cardstock, index cards, art paper, blank bookmarks, etc) and set it aside. Hop on Pinterest or Google and search for uplifting/encouraging/inspirational/supportive sayings. Save them to a word document and when you're finished just copy them onto pieces of paper. Feel free to paint or draw on them as well. Then, give them out to strangers in passing throughout your day, tuck under windshield wipers, leave them on benches (set a rock on top so it doesn't blow away!) or on tables, tack them to bulletin boards around campus, at work, the laundromat. Some of my favorite sayings that I use regularly for this are: "You ARE Enough!" "You Matter!" "The world is better with you in it." "This is what you're going through, not who you are." "Don't give up. It WILL get better." "You got this!" "You are loved!" "Keep your face always toward the sunshine, and shadows will fall behind you." "Spread love everywhere you go."
• Painted Rocks: Gather up smooth stones and paint them, including uplifting sayings on them like with the Post Its. Leave them around local parks, playgrounds, or wherever you think there are people in need of cheering up! Check out The Kindness Rocks Project if you need inspiration.
• No Rush: Let someone cut ahead of you in line.
• After You: Hold open the door for those entering a building behind you.
• Chalk Inspiration: Get some sidewalk chalk and write inspirational short sayings on sidewalks, around parks, etc. Bring a smile to passersby.
• Roses Are Red: Pick or buy flowers and hand them out to strangers on the street.
• Leave No Trace: Head over to a local park or beach and collect the rubbish others have left behind.
• I Just Called to Say I Love You: Call a loved one just to say hi and see how they're doing. Remind them that they are loved.
• We Are Family: Visit your grandparents or parents. Be present. Have conversations that matter.
• Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Write a snail mail letter or send a card to let your parent/grandparent/friend you haven't seen in a while know that they're both loved and thought of.
• Love Notes: Put notes in your child's backpack or lunchbox with an encouraging word and reminder that they're loved.
• Plant a Tree. Or five!
• Rise And Shine: Bring in coffee, muffins/donuts for your coworkers.
• Walk With Purpose: Participate in a fundraiser walk/run for an organization of your choice. Out of the Darkness is one of my favorites. Step Out - Walk to Stop Diabetes is another I support.
• Compliment a stranger.
• Lessen Someone's Load: Shovel your relative or neighbor's driveway for them, or rake up the leaves in their yard.
• Planning on cutting your hair short? Donate it to an organization that will put it to good use making wigs for cancer patients as well as those who have other medical conditions which result in hair loss. Wigs For Kids is one that doesn't charge the patient's for their wigs. Hair We Share is another great organization.
• Pending Coffee: Pay a bit extra at the coffee shop, grocery store, or drive-thru and tell the cashier you'd like it to go towards the next person's order. You could also do this when paying for bus fare.
• Share a Favorite Book: Have a spare copy of a favorite book? Add it to your local "Little Free Library", or start one if there isn't one nearby! Leave a copy of a favorite children's book on a bench at the local playground with a note saying "Please read me! Free to a good home!"
• Knit/Crochet Cold-Weather Accessories: Have extra yarn that you don't have a use for? Knit/crochet a scarf, hat, gloves, or mittens and give them to a homeless person.
• Donate to charity.
• Volunteer (more on this below)
• Organize a fundraiser or donation drive.

...

In addition to the aforementioned Random Acts of Kindness ideas, there are also a plethora of volunteers opportunities out there!

• Stand By Me: Volunteer at a Local Nursing Home. (Call ahead to inquire about any COVID mandates still in place.) Many seniors who are living in nursing homes do not have family/friends, or rather, they don't family and friends who visit. Call around to the local nursing homes in your area and ask if they are in need of volunteers. Sometimes the nursing homes are looking for volunteer event hosts. Do you have the availability to organize a book club, a knitting circle, bingo game day, or a weekly/monthly movie night? Karaoke with some music from the early 1900s would undoubtedly bring some smiles.
• Other times they may simply be looking for volunteers to come in and interact with the residents. Some recommendations: Bring in puzzles or board games (or use those they have on-site). Sit and spend time just listening and getting to know someone while playing cards, playing a game, or doing a puzzle together.
• Are you a sports fan? You could go in and sit with some of the residents, watch a game with them.
• Bring in a stack of books from home or you could pick some up from the library. While some residents may still enjoy reading on their own, there are always some whose eyesight is no longer up to the task. Volunteer your time reading to them.
• Set up seasonal/holiday-themed activities. (Example: In my region, we're entering spring. So, you could get some seeds or flowers (if you're already starting your own for at-home then just go ahead and plant all the flower seeds and divvy them up into small pots once they're ready.) You could have the residents help plant them in flower pots to place on their windowsills. Talk to the owners of your local garden centers as they may be willing to donate the materials you'll need!
• If you have children, you can speak with their teachers (art teachers in particular) to see if you could have their classes paint terracotta pots and start seeds as a class project. When they're finished they can be delivered to the nursing home, either by you or potentially the class.
• When I was a child we used to visit local nursing homes to perform spring and winter concerts with our music class, in addition to bringing in paintings (spring) or small gifts we'd all made (winter).
• Most importantly just be present while you're there. Ask them about themselves and their lives. If they seem open and receptive then engage in conversation. If not, try to engage them in an activity.
• Are You Musically Inclined? Do you play an instrument? Are you a singer? You could send a video or link to your website/social media page and ask if they'd be interested in you entertaining at the nursing home for an afternoon. The same goes if you have a tween/teen in chorus/glee who could get their club to perform.
• Free Haircuts: Are you a hairdresser/barber? Could you spare a couple of mornings or afternoons each month offering haircuts? Nursing homes, homeless shelters, domestic violence shelters, veterans centers/shelters could all use your services!
• Made With Love: Do you enjoy baking? You could call ahead at the to find out about dietary restrictions at any of the aforementioned and whip up a couple of different treats to bring in on whichever day you volunteer. Or if you don't have a lot of free time (many of us don't!) you could bring the treats over regardless, along with a note saying you hope these goodies will sweeten up their day.
• Lend A Helping Hand: Do you have an elderly relative or neighbor who doesn't get out much, or may need help (Running errands such as grocery shopping, walking their pet, a ride to an appointment, tidying up around the house, weeding their yard, mowing the lawn)? Reach out and see how you can help! Many of the above suggestions can be used here as well. Maybe they could just use some company and a friendly face! If the person you've decided to help out has difficulty moving around or tends to be alone you could make a little extra when preparing a meal and bring it over to share a meal with them.
• We All Need Somebody to Lean On: Volunteer at a Homeless Shelter/Veterans' shelter. Again, many of the above suggestions can be implemented here as well. I know veteran's shelters, in particular, are often seeking activity organizers (One that they're often in need of is a monthly birthday planner. You organize a birthday party for everyone who has a birthday that month. If you can't commit to every month you could offer to plan it during certain months or see if you can get some friends/relatives/coworkers involved. You could plan it together, or alternate on who does the organizing.
• Put On A Happy Face: Volunteer at a children's hospital. (Again, call ahead to inquire about COVID policies they may have in place.)
• Be Like Elsa, Let It Go: Outside of the activities at the shelters, you could round up items that you/your family no longer use and donate them to local shelters. Organize a donation drive at work or in your community. Again, ask your local schools and businesses if they'd be interested in participating or donating. Most shelters will keep an updated list of items that they're currently in need of, as well as items that are consistently in demand.
• You could also organize a donation drive for the homeless who are living on the streets and then gather up some friends, family, coworkers and head out into your community and distribute everything. Again, be present, be engaged, and supportive.
• Your Story Isn't Over: Volunteer with a Crisis/Suicide Prevention Organization or Hotline. These organizations will train you to be a supportive ear for their hotlines. You do NOT need a degree or formal training. Just be supportive and willing to listen. Some require that you commit to volunteering with them for a set amount of time (2–3 hours per week for a year with The Trevor Project, or 4 hours weekly until 200 hours have been reached with The Crisis Text Hotline).
• The Crisis Text Hotline (Provide support to those going through crisis) 18+ to volunteer.
• Samaritans (Suicide Prevention) 15+ to volunteer.
• The Trevor Project (Providing support to the LGBTQ community) 18+ to volunteer.
• Help the Furbabies: Volunteer at a local animal shelter. Whether it's helping to feed, walk, bathe, or clean up, animal shelters are always in need of two things: volunteers and donations!
• Help Others to Reclaim Their Future: Volunteer at a recovery center. Some things they often need help with is preparing meals for after meetings. Another is computer assistance (Help learning the basics of how to use a computer, set up an email account, write up a resume and post it online.) for both those in recovery as well as staff and other volunteers. This is a necessary skill that can make a world of difference.
• Become a Tutor: With Tutors for Change, you must be 14+ to become an online tutor. They require a commitment of 1–3 hours of your time each week.
• Become a Mentor: iMentor is always looking for college-educated individuals who will mentor high school students, virtually. Additionally there any many organizations which are always in need of mentors for local youth, particularly at-risk youth.
• A Great Coach Can Change A Life: Provide coaching to a child with a chronic illness. You do NOT need to be a professional to volunteer. CoachArt is seeking volunteers who are interested in inspiring children in the following areas: Athletics (Baseball, basketball, soccer, tennis, volleyball, etc.) and the Arts (Cooking, playing an instrument, painting, singing, etc). They only ask that you give one hour of your time each week for four weeks.

This is by no means an exhaustive list of ways to spread kindness, but hopefully it'll inspire you! Time spent lifting others up will not only help them in untold ways but exhibiting kindness is also good for lifting your own spirits. Make those ripples be positive ones!

~

If you've enjoyed reading this, please consider giving it a "like" by clicking on the ❤️! If you'd like to read more of my writing, be sure to subscribe! Tips and pledges are voluntary, and so greatly appreciated!

This was originally published on Medium.