Last week, I went through Chick-Fil-A's drive thru. When I reached the window, I was informed that the lady in front of me paid for my meal. My grandmother always says "It's the little things that make the biggest difference" and although that lady paying for my meal may have been a small gesture for her, it meant the world to me. With that one small gesture, she made my entire week and I am forever grateful to her because it reminded me of the art of selflessness. So, I challenged myself to perform 21 random acts over the next month.
1. Return the blessing and pay for someone else's meal or drink
2. Write encouraging notes and pass them out to strangers as you run your daily errands or write encouraging notes/messages to friends and family out of the blue
3. Take a day to just focus on some community service with projects that you are passionate about.
4. Cut your neighbor's grass and water their lawn
5. Wake up early and make a meal for the entire family.
6. Offer compliments to people who are passing you by.
7. Surprise your grandparents and spend some time with them.
8. Send someone flowers to their job to remind them that they are loved.
9. Clean out your closet and items and donate what you can to a homeless shelter.
10. Simply smile at strangers.
11. Take the time to tell someone how they've impacted your life.
12. Send a random table dessert.
13. Bring someone their favorite bring or candy just to show them that you care.
14. Offer hugs more often.
15. Pick up litter when you see it.
16. Help someone else with their job without seeking compensation. It is okay to just lead a helping hand.
17. Create care packages and send them to people in need.
18. Visit a nursing home or children's hospital. Call ahead to the volunteering/visiting center to know when you are allowed to visit and proper security screenings.
19. Volunteer to read to the children at your local library.
20. Leave positive stickies in a public bathroom mirror for someone.
21. Love others as you love yourself.
As this month progresses, I cannot wait to see what I gain from this experience by learning how to be more compassionate and selfless. Once someone sees another person express these two traits, a chain reaction will quickly begin and before we know it, these random acts will not seem so random anymore.
