Happy World Kindness Day, everybody! Here’s how to spread the love today

What day is today? Well, it’s Thursday. It’s the day before Friday. It’s Weekend Eve Eve. It’s one of those days during that awkward time just before mid-November, when it’s getting colder outside, eggnog is now on the shelf next to the milk at the grocery store, and you can listen to holiday music without being completely shunned from society (hey, it’s after Halloween folks, I’ve waited my turn and ALL BETS ARE OFF).

All of that being said, today is special for another reason. It’s World Kindness Day! And that’s rad because it gives us an excuse to seek out ways to be intentionally kind to the people around us. But wait, why today? Why is it World Kindness Day, you may ask? Well, allow me to elaborate. (First, sing it Glen!)

World Kindness Day was introduced on this day in 1998 by the World Kindness Movement, and its purpose is to “focus on the positive power and common thread of kindness which binds us all together.” Kindness is something that can bridge the divides of race, religion, politics, gender, and zip codes. In our busy lives, it’s easy to put on auto-pilot. To just go about our day without reaching out to another person in kindness. Today, let’s start a new trend.

Here are some random acts of kindness to jumpstart your day.

1. Let someone go in front of you in line. Remember that one time someone let you go in front of them at Albertson’s since you were only buying bread, milk, and Red Vines? (Hey, no judgements!) It made you feel great, and you probably just wanted to give that person a big ol’ hug for not making you wait behind their giant shopping cart. Such a small gesture can really turn someone’s day around.
2. Buy a stranger a cup of coffee. A.K.A. make a new bestie. Pick up the tab for the person behind you on the Starbucks line. It will only set you back a few bucks, and this small act of kindness will feel really good to give and receive. Hey, maybe you’ll spark a pay-it-forward trend.
3. Open the door for the people behind you. Yeah, we are all in a rush. It’s the nature of the society we live in today. Taking the time (a few extra seconds, tops) to hold the door open for the person or group of people behind you is a really cool thing to do on any day—but today especially.
4. Send a thank you note. The days of good old fashioned thank you notes is long past. In an age of text messages and emails, our “thank you”s are reduced to a few lines of text. There’s something about seeing someone’s handwritten thank you note that means so much more. Think back and remember something or someone you are thankful for, and write them a note. Yes… with a pen and paper. Consider it a chance to remember how to write the “old-fashioned way.”
5. Leave an encouraging/hilarious/adorbs note for someone. Tape a sticky note with an inspiring/funny quote (here are some ideas) on your co-worker’s desk and totally kickstart their day in the right way.
6. Give a little extra tip. The barista, the server, the sweet lady at the corner bakery—sprinkle a little extra sugar in that tip jar today if you can.
7. Make a donation. It’s a good time to clean out your pantry for a Thanksgiving food drive or give a little bit of time or money to that non-profit organization you’ve been meaning to get involved with.
8. Bring a box of cookies to work. Oh and share them with everyone.
9. Send someone you love a bunch of pictures of cats in weird positions. Because, come on, cats in weird positions are awesome.

These are just a few ideas, but don’t let us stop you from coming up with your own random acts of kindness (let’s call them RAKs) today. Yeah, it’s going to be a good day.

(Featured image via)