It doesn’t cost anything to be kind.
November 13 is World Kindness Day. I first came across the idea of random acts of kindness when I read Pay it Forward by Catherine Ryan Hyde. Although this is a novel, the concept of simply doing something kind for someone else with no expectation of a return made a huge impact. The book, which was subsequently made into a movie starring Kevin Spacey told the simple story of a social studies teacher who set a project and a young man with a bright idea.
The task was to Think of an idea for world change, and put it into action.
The 12-year-old came up with the idea of doing something kind for three people. Simple things really, but things that made a difference. Instead of ‘paying him back’ he asked them to pay it forward but doing a favour for 3 people themselves. This resulted in a whole lot of kindness.
Random acts of kindness can take any sort of form. I am blessed to have been the recipient so many times. Just recently I received a slip from the postman to say that I had missed a delivery. I wasn’t expecting anything. The parcel arrived on a week when I really needed a lift and I was delighted to find, some yummy sweets, a magazine and some sparkly bath salts along with a card from a dear friend.
When browsing art books (a bit of an obsession with me), I came across the concept of leaving a piece of art or a message in a public place for someone to pick up. Imagine coming across something really beautiful and knowing that a random act of kindness put it there, just for you.
My challenge to you, and to myself is to take a minute or two to be kind to a friend or stranger, especially on World Kindness Day – 13 November 2015. It doesn’t cost much and can make a huge difference in someones day.
Take a visit to this awesome website the home of the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation. It is truly inspirational and the source of the fab graphic on this post.
Thanks for reading
Kerry x
