Today is World Kindness Day.
It’s somewhat depressing that we feel the need for such a day. As the Dalai Lama said:
“Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.”
Today then, I’ve been going out of my way to do little things. Making tea for colleagues. Holding doors open. Picking up something that the barista dropped in the coffee shop.
Stuff I’d do normally, to be honest. I’m a huge believer in what goes around, comes around. Be nice to others, and others will be nice to you.
I also love random acts of kindness – many years ago I was surfing my livejournal friendslist and saw a comment on a friends blog by someone I didn’t know. I went to their blog, liked what I read and found that they had an amazon wishlist. I bought them a CD from the list, with a note which just (if memory serves) said: “A random act of kindness. Have a great day.”
I found out later that he’d been having a rough time and that random act of kindness from an unknown stranger off the internet meant more than I could ever have expected. We’ve since become great friends. And that random act triggered others across our mutual friendslists. People started doing random nice things for others. It’s the domino effect.
It doesn’t have to involve money though. A smile, as they say, costs nothing. Just be nice to others. I don’t have a motto (who does?), but if I did, it’d pretty much follow Wheaton’s Law:
“Don’t be a dick.”
It’s a great sentiment. Be kind to each other, folks. Not just today, but every day.
Life’s short enough as it is.
espresso coco 
I love your random act of kindness – I really love sending a friend a surprise gift, but it’s great to think you lifted the spirits of a complete stranger too! I think I’m also generally a kind person – but it doesn’t hurt to go above and beyond occasionally – B
Have to say I just got all choked up reading about your random act of kindness, sometimes the smallest thing can make a huge difference to someone who is struggling.
Sometimes even a smile can brighten up your day – I know it has for me on many occasions. 🙂
You chose to go out of your way to do it for someone you didn’t know, and you made a difference beyond what you expected. The world would be in so much better shape if there were more of this going on! Thank you for telling this story. I’ve attached your post to my own about Random Acts of Kindness, I hope you don’t mind.
I don’t mind in the slightest. Thanks for stopping by, I look forward to reading more of your blog. 🙂
Likewise. 🙂