In Praise of Random Acts of Kindness
Every year on the Anniversary of the Massacre at Columbine, many high schools, including the one I teach in, sponsor a "Random Acts of Kindness Day". I have to admit that after so many years of teaching, I don't get too excited about these "special days" but when stacked up against typical High School activities like "Pep Rally Day", and "Spirit Week", "Random Acts of Kindness Day" is one to which I really look forward. It is a day with a purpose that extends beyond the walls of the school. Unlike some of the things we are forced by State Testing and Newspaper district scores reporting, to teach, the skills taught are ones that the students could make good use of after they graduate...those being compassion and caring. I never mind taking some time out of teaching content area to discuss the importance of those two qualities. Everyone in the school rises to the occasion, giving each other complements, saying "hello" to peers they seldom acknowledge on any other day. Of course, tomorrow comes and many of us go back to the old ways. What a shame! It's such a nice day. Below is a list of just a few "Random Acts of Kindness" that could be performed any day of the year. How nice it would be if every day were "Random Acts of Kindness Day". Want to help make it happen?
- Give a lottery ticket to a stranger.
- Tell your adult children how proud you are of the wonderful adults they have become.
- Start up a conversation with a co-worker that you don't know.
- Put change in a row of vending machines and don't pull the lever.
- Take flowers to a hospital and give them to someone who never has any visitors.
- Invite someone alone over for dinner.
- Put a quarter in a parking meter that has expired.
- Offer to babysit for some new parents you might know who could really use a break
- Write a thank you note to a community organization thanking them for their service to the community.
Do you have a Random Act of Kindness story to share? If so, please share it and inspire the rest of us!
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Some neat ideas for RAKs. Thanks for sharing.
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My sister recently picked up her mother-in-law's tax return from an accountant. When she asked what the fee was, the accountant wouldn't take any money. From the tax return, he knew her mother-in-law's age, and he said he liked to help out senior citizens!
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The suggested RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS
are appreciated; would that more schools (Elementary and especially High Schools) should give some time to these suggestions. Sometimes all children need is the opoportunity to be of help. latest RAOK i experienced was my dear neighbor delivering my newspaper from my driveway to my door through 2 and 1/2 feet of snow so that I didn't have to venture out before the driveway was cleared. (My husband is in the late 80's and a stroke victim and I am in my early 80's). God bless them!
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