60 Unique Random Acts of Kindness For Heart-Centered Folks and Kindness Advocates

Small acts of kindness, often performed anonymously without the recipient ever finding out who was responsible for the gesture, are deeply powerful sparks of service and connection.  More fondly known as Random Acts of Kindness, RAKS or RAOKs, when shown, received and witnessed, the potential magnitude of their effect is incredible.  You can read more about that (and join The Kind’s Eye!) here.

I’ve been a passionate advocate for kindness for as long as I’ve had the ability to stand for anything.  Kindness knows no boundaries, but in thousands of conversations that I’ve shared with others about it over the years I have come to understand two things:

–  Showing, receiving and witnessing genuine kindness supports many folks to feel connected and valued across and within many pockets of our global community.

–  Many folks are searching for impactful, respectful and simple ways to show and embody kindness as they go about their day.

There are hundreds of examples out there of what a Random Act of Kindness can look like, but below is a list of my favourites.

All of them have the ability to positively impact the life of another person and most of them are completely free.

1.  Leave a note in the letterbox of a property that has a beautiful garden, thanking them for providing beauty.

2.  Scatter some coins around an empty children’s playground for kids to one day find.

3.  Gift an umbrella to someone walking in the rain.

4.  Hold a door open for someone.

5.  Pay someone a genuine and heartfelt compliment.

6.  Hand out some Lolli-Flowers by the amazing Kind Over Matter.

7.  Let someone go ahead of you in a queue.

8.  Pay for something of someone’s in the queue behind you.  You could do this anywhere, but my favourite things to pay for are cups of coffee, amusement park rides or cafe bills.

9.  Leave a book that you have finished somewhere where someone else can find it… or start your own Little Free Library.

10.  Leave flowers for a stranger.

11.  Take part in Operation Beautiful.

12.  Despite what your parents might have told you, when it is safe to do so, talk to strangers!  You never know the impact you might have…

13.  Apologise when you inconvenience or cause hurt to someone you don’t know – though to me this one is more based in decency than kindness.

14.  Leave artwork or drawings for people to find.

15.  Smile.

16.  Write an anonymous handwritten letter of appreciation to someone you have seen doing great things, or someone you know who could benefit from some encouragement.

17.  Pick up rubbish as you walk through the streets.

18.  Plant a tree.

19.  Wheel out/in your neighbours’ bins or mow their lawn as you mow your own.

20.  Place fruit or vegetables from your garden that you don’t need somewhere where others are able and invited to take them.

21.  Say thank you.

22.  Ask strangers what matters to them.  The gift of opportunity for someone to speak openly about what sparks their heart is powerful!

23.  Water a plant if you see it dying.

24.  Donate to not-for-profits and charity organisations.

25.  Volunteer.  You can find tips on how to get started here.

26.  Write a positive comment on a website or blog.

27.  Leave coins or washing powder at a laundromat.

28.  Compliment drivers on how well they parked!

29.  Donate old towels and blankets to an animal shelter.

30.  Buy secondhand.

31.  Set up a birdhouse and fill it with seed.

32.  Leave a water bowl outside your house for animals to drink from.

33.  Leave a positive note of thanks alongside a tip for service staff and waitstaff to find.

34.  Leave notes of encouragement or money in library books.

35.  Top up your parking meter just before you drive away.

36.  Leave positive reviews or recommendations online for services, places and experiences you enjoyed.

37.  Tell the truth. Again, decency…

38.  Make a colleague a cup of coffee or tea.

39.  Leave space for traffic to enter while you are driving.

40.  Offer assistance or directions to someone who appears lost or confused.

41.  Offer to help someone carry their shopping or grocery bags.

42.  Leave your coin or token in your shopping trolley when you return it.

43.  Offer to take a photo when you see someone struggling to capture a ‘selfie’.

44.  Leave a gift on someone’s doorstep.

45.  Join Be My Eyes.

46.  Take time to ask someone who looks upset or worried if they are okay.

47.  Give up your seat on public transport or a public bench for someone else.

48.  Tell someone searching for a car park that you are about to leave as you make your way back to your car.

49.  Take someone new to the neighbourhood for a tour of your city.

50.  Play music at a retirement home.

51.  Hold the elevator for someone.

52.  Offer someone your pen when you see them searching for one.

53.  Donate colouring books, stationery and old school books for children.

54.  Listen to someone.

55.  Leave some change on the edge of a wishing fountain.

56.  Pick up the poop of another’s dog as you walk your own.

57.  Offer your newspaper to someone else when you have finished with it.

58.  Rake leaves or shovel snow for others.

59.  Wipe down park tables to make them more appealing for others.

60.  Request that people perform a random act of kindness in your honour instead of gifting you presents for special occasions.

Do you have a favourite of your own?

Have you seen, received or performed a random act of kindness?

Please tell me about it in the comments below!