2016 was a big year across the world, and in my own personal life, I hit a major life milestone…I turned 35. I’m not sure when 35 became one of those big numbers in life (maybe because we all of a sudden are deemed to be “advanced maternal age”), but it just seems like one of those more looming birthdays. For many reasons, I was dreading 35. Am I where I had imagined myself to be at 35? Am I viewed as old by the world despite still having a spring in my step and a song in my heart? And really…am I old?
As the days started to tick away, I was getting a little sad at the idea of having to check the 35+ box from that day on forever. On the eve of my birthday, I decided I wanted to do something to celebrate, but I wanted to find a way to do it with positivity and optimism. That’s when I thought about doing 35 acts of kindness to remember each year of my blessed life. We all need just a little more kindness, and I hope that I can take turn this into a personal call to action to spread a little more good will to everyone I can. I would love to do 365 acts of kindness as my New Year’s Resolution and hope that by the time 36 rolls aroun,d I will have a happier outlook for its arrival. Here are 35 of my ideas for spreading kindness, and I would love to hear more to add to my growing list.
- Open/Hold the door for someone
- Offer to help carry something for someone
- Pay for someone else’s meal/item at the register
- Write a letter to a veteran
- Visit a senior’s home
- Help walk dogs at the animal shelter
- Send a friend a letter in the mail saying you are thinking of them
- Leave a surprise in your mailbox for your mail carrier
- Cook a meal and deliver it to a new mom
- Compliment someone
- Help a neighbor with a chore (raking leaves, shoveling, etc)
- Beach clean up
- Let someone in at a merge
- Leave money at a vending machine for the next person
- Invite someone over for dinner
- Bake treats and bring them into the office
- Offer to babysit a friend’s kid for a few hours so they can take a break
- Donate toys to a local shelter
- Make a care package and deliver it to a local children’s hospital
- Buy a magazine subscription for the library
- Give up your seat in a crowded situation
- Leave a few of your favorite books around town to share with others
- Let someone in front of you in a line
- Add money to parking meters about to expire
- Pay for school supplies that a teacher needs
- Send someone a list of reasons why you are thankful for them
- Round up loose shopping carts and put them in the corral
- Tip extra generously
- Leave stickers at the Dr’s office
- Buy blankets for a shelter
- Give someone a coupon or gift card you won’t use
- Donate to a charity in someone else’s name
- Wait with someone
- Tell someone who helps you how thankful you are and how helpful they were
- I crochet so I want to make some stuffed animals and leave them around for kids to find
grape / 87 posts
I try to compliment people every single day. Maybe it’s their coat, purse, or makeup but I do it about something genuine. Yesterday there was a woman who got on the train with her daughter. They both opened books and started reading. I told her she was my mom-inspiration. Words are easy to give, but I think sometimes you say them to someone on the right day and it can really make a difference.
blogger / apricot / 275 posts
this is so beautiful! i’m inspired to do something of my own.
guest
I absolutely LOVE this idea and will totally join you! Still have a few more months left… Maybe I can join you on your 365 acts of kindness too. Will that start the day we turn 36?