10 Of The Simplest Acts Of Kindness That Make A World Of Difference | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Student Life

10 Of The Simplest Acts Of Kindness That Make A World Of Difference

Put a smile on someone else's face just because.

575
10 Of The Simplest Acts Of Kindness That Make A World Of Difference
Unsplash
"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

I recently stumbled upon a Facebook post that went viral for all the right reasons. The post was from a mother who decided to take her children out around town and leave random acts of kindness to brighten others' days. They left things such as bouquets of flowers on the hood of people's cars, enough quarters for a load of laundry on washing machines at the laundromat, a pack of microwave popcorn on a Redbox movie machine, and even a quarter on each gumball dispenser at a store. Each gift was left with a small card that read "Enjoy this random act of kindness. Have a great day!"

The post included photos of three happy children leaving the gifts and the caption simply read "Only regret about this is not doing it sooner!"

"If you have the power to make someone happy, do it. The world needs more of that" — Anonymous

This post really inspired me. Not only were the children who were leaving the gifts doing so with smiles, but I'm sure each recipient of the random acts of kindness found a smile and happiness in the gesture as well - I know I would.

You always hear the phrase "our world could use more people like this", but in my opinion, we have plenty of people like this. There are so many people in the world that see this type of kindness and have a positive reaction to it, realizing how easy it is to put a smile on someone else's face just because. The post itself went viral, gaining thousands of likes, comments and shares. If each of the people who interacted with this post made an effort to make one person's day through random acts of kindness, it would make a huge impact on a lot of lives.

"Remember there's no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end." — Scott Adams

I've compiled a list of 10 random acts of kindness that are simple to do and could very well help you become the first link to a chain reaction of smiles and good vibes.

1. Call a cashier by their name and ask them how their day is going.

You can see any stress wash away and the radiance of their smile is so genuine. A simple conversation and a little compassion can go a long way.

2. Pay for the person behind you in line or in a drive-through.

This has happened to me time and time again. I always make it an effort to remember these times and pay it forward when I can.

3. Remind someone how much they inspire you or how proud of them you are.

It's impossible not to smile and feel great when hearing that you inspire someone or that they are proud of you - even for the littlest things.

4. Send a random Facebook message to someone you haven't spoken to in a long time.

Sometimes just getting a message from a friend you haven't heard from in a while can bring you a lot of joy - it could even rekindle a friendship.

5. Hide a few post-it notes with positive words throughout the day.

Hide them in places you know someone will eventually find them. Like in a library book, on the seat of a chair, on the inside of a bathroom door - get creative so it will catch them off guard and be that much more special.

6. Strike up a conversation and give someone a compliment.

A co-worker you don't talk to often, a peer sitting next to you in class, your neighbor, a person in the elevator with you - just being genuine and making someone feel noticed can change a person's whole day.

7. Text 5 random friends and tell them to have a great day.

Not only do strangers benefit from random acts of kindness, you can make your friends' days too. Everyone loves to know someone is thinking of them!

8. Leave a big tip and an encouraging note for your waiter at a restaurant.

This always has a huge impact on a server's day and you could single-handedly turn their shift around if they were having a bad day, or just make it the best shift they've ever worked.

9. Bring someone a coffee or small gift.

Whether it's to a co-worker, a friend you've made in class, or even just someone you know you'll be seeing at a meeting, this gesture shows a person you were thinking of them and that alone will definitely make them smile.

10. Make an effort to smile at people you don't know.

I have always believed in the idea that a smile can turn someone's day around completely, that it could even save a life. I guarantee they'll smile back and I bet they walk a little taller with the rush of good vibes from something so simple and easy.

I challenge you all to be more conscious of the world and people around you - spread kindness because it's not hard to do. Make an effort to do at least one thing on this list before the week is over; maybe even try to do all ten! You'll be making the people around you smile, touching lives in the simplest ways, and ultimately you'll feel great doing it too!

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Lifestyle

The Great Christmas Movie Debate

"A Christmas Story" is the star on top of the tree.

519
The Great Christmas Movie Debate
Mental Floss

One staple of the Christmas season is sitting around the television watching a Christmas movie with family and friends. But of the seemingly hundreds of movies, which one is the star on the tree? Some share stories of Santa to children ("Santa Claus Is Coming to Town"), others want to spread the Christmas joy to adults ("It's a Wonderful Life"), and a select few are made to get laughs ("Elf"). All good movies, but merely ornaments on the Christmas tree of the best movies. What tops the tree is a movie that bridges the gap between these three movies, and makes it a great watch for anyone who chooses to watch it. Enter the timeless Christmas classic, "A Christmas Story." Created in 1983, this movie holds the tradition of capturing both young and old eyes for 24 straight hours on its Christmas Day marathon. It gets the most coverage out of all holiday movies, but the sheer amount of times it's on television does not make it the greatest. Why is it,
then? A Christmas Story does not try to tell the tale of a Christmas miracle or use Christmas magic to move the story. What it does do though is tell the real story of Christmas. It is relatable and brings out the unmatched excitement of children on Christmas in everyone who watches. Every one becomes a child again when they watch "A Christmas Story."

Keep Reading...Show less
student thinking about finals in library
StableDiffusion

As this semester wraps up, students can’t help but be stressed about finals. After all, our GPAs depends on these grades! What student isn’t worrying about their finals right now? It’s “goodbye social life, hello library” time from now until the end of finals week.

1. Finals are weeks away, I’m sure I’ll be ready for them when they come.

Keep Reading...Show less
Christmas tree
Librarian Lavender

It's the most wonderful time of the year! Christmas is one of my personal favorite holidays because of the Christmas traditions my family upholds generation after generation. After talking to a few of my friends at college, I realized that a lot of them don't really have "Christmas traditions" in their family, and I want to help change that. Here's a list of Christmas traditions that my family does, and anyone can incorporate into their family as well!

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

The 5 Phases Of Finals

May the odds be ever in your favor.

1952
Does anybody know how to study
Gurl.com

It’s here; that time of year when college students turn into preschoolers again. We cry for our mothers, eat everything in sight, and whine when we don’t get our way. It’s finals, the dreaded time of the semester when we all realize we should have been paying attention in class instead of literally doing anything else but that. Everyone has to take them, and yes, unfortunately, they are inevitable. But just because they are here and inevitable does not mean they’re peaches and cream and full of rainbows. Surviving them is a must, and the following five phases are a reality for all majors from business to art, nursing to history.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

How To Prepare For The Library: Finals Edition

10 ways to prepare for finals week—beginning with getting to the library.

3222
How To Prepare For The Library: Finals Edition
Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash

It’s that time of year again when college students live at the library all week, cramming for tests that they should have started studying for last month. Preparing to spend all day at the library takes much consideration and planning. Use these tips to help get you through the week while spending an excessive amount of time in a building that no one wants to be in.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments