What would happen if we all decided to be just a little bit kinder to one another? More understanding. More forgiving. More empathetic. More loving.
The truth is that behind every face is a story that you don’t know—Whether it’s the stranger at the store whose cheeks are still red and stained with tears or your best friend who has been short-tempered and snappy with you lately.
We all lead complex lives with lows that can leave us feeling drained, discouraged, and downright defeated.
The world has a way of wearing us out and beating us down so why make life harder than it already is? What if we chose to love each other, lift others up, and support one another?
This is what Random Acts of Kindness Day is all about—an example of what the world would look like with more kindness in it— and you can be a part of it.
What is Random Acts of Kindness Day?
Random Acts of Kindness Day is a day in which we remind ourselves of the importance and impact of being kind to others by performing random acts of kindness.
Though performing random acts of kindness for others is hardly a new idea, the official Random Acts of Kindness Day was created in 1995 by a U.S.-based, non-profit organization called The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation.
Since then, participation in this day has spread throughout the world as countries join in on the mission to brighten others’ lives with kindness, positivity, and philanthropy.
When is Random Acts of Kindness Day 2023?
Random Acts of Kindness Day is 17 February every year. This year, in 2023, Random Acts of Kindness Day falls on a Friday.
It’s only appropriate that this day takes place during the same week as Valentine’s Day in February, the month of love.
What Are Some Random Acts of Kindness Ideas?
There are countless random acts of kindness that you can do to participate in Random Acts of Kindness Day.
The best part is that it costs nothing to be kind. No matter who you are, where you come from, or what your circumstances are, everyone can afford to be kind to others.
Whether big or small, each and every gesture of kindness towards someone makes a difference. A simple act of kindness can easily have a significant impact on someone’s day and sometimes even their life.
Here are some ideas to help get you started on spreading kindness:
- Give someone a compliment
- Open the door for someone
- Give someone else your seat on a crowded subway or bus
- Cheer someone up who is having a hard day
- Have a conversation with a lonely person
- Bring stuffed animals to a children’s hospital
- Pay for the person behind you when going through a drive-through
- Leave a tip and a nice note for your server at a restaurant
- Give to a charity
- Volunteer in your community
For more ideas on what you can do on Random Acts of Kindness Day, click here.
Kindness Quotes That Will Inspire You
To help inspire you to go out into the world and make a difference, here are some random acts of kindness quotes:
“Remember there’s no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end.”
— Scott Adams
“One who is kind is sympathetic and gentle with others. He is considerate of others’ feelings and courteous in his behaviour. He has a helpful nature. Kindness pardons others’ weaknesses and faults. Kindness is extended to all – to the aged and the young, to animals, to those low of station as well as the high.”
— Ezra Taft Benson
“One who knows how to show and to accept kindness will be a friend better than any possession.”
— Sophocles
“Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.”
— Mark Twain
“Wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for a kindness.”
— Lucius Annaeus Seneca
“Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do the same for you.”
— Princess Diana
“Constant kindness can accomplish much. As the sun makes ice melt, kindness causes misunderstanding, mistrust, and hostility to evaporate.”
— Albert Schweitzer
“You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late.”
— Ralph Waldo Emerson
Make Kindness the New Normal
Although Random Acts of Kindness Day is a great opportunity to be kind to others, we could always use more kindness in our daily lives.
Remember that you can help change the world one random act of kindness at a time—Not just today, but every day.