“NO ACT OF KINDNESS, NO MATTER HOW SMALL, IS EVER WASTED”

- Aesop

World Kindness Day will be observed this year on Friday, November 13. Since 1998, organizations like the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation have used this day to promote the positive power and common thread of kindness across the globe. Good deeds, compassion and joy can bridge race, religion, politics, gender and zip codes. And right now, they offer a much-needed respite from the daily stressors of living in the midst of a pandemic.

Below are suggestions you can use on World Kindness Day to connect with others through kindness:

• Make Someone’s Day – A simple act can change the mood and offer hope to co-workers, loved ones and strangers. Share a compliment. Text someone good morning or good night. Hold open the door. Offer extra thanks to your server. Reply to a post you enjoy. Chalk positive messages on the sidewalk. With just a little time and effort, small gestures like these can have a remarkable impact.

• Spread Laughter – According to experts at the Mayo Clinic, laughter really is one of the best medicines, offering short-term stress relief and long-term health benefits like boosting your immune system. Send out your best (or corniest) joke via text, post a silly meme on social media or pass along a hilarious video clip in an email to share some therapeutic laughs with others.

• Pay it Forward – Giving while expecting nothing in return couples generosity with kindness. Pay for the order behind you in the drive through. Donate food, winter coats or clothing. Leave quarters at the laundromat. Gift someone an inspirational book. With the ripple effect of these thoughtful actions, who knows what kind of chain reaction you can create by paying it forward!

• Take Care of Mother Earth – Being good to the environment is just as important as offering kindness to others. Adjust your thermostat to use a little less energy (and save some $). Order from a restaurant serving locally-grown foods. Turn your computer off at night. Shop consignment or thrift stores rather than buying brand new. Pick up litter in your neighborhood. Decreasing your impact on the environment is a kindness that benefits everyone.

The joy and peace you will experience as you make a difference to others can be one of the best ways to take care of your own mental health. For more ways you can spread positivity on World Kindness Day and beyond, visit RandomActsofKindness.org today and help #makekindnessthenorm.