Celebrating Random Acts of Kindness Day was originally published on Firsthand.
What’s one thing the world could always use a lot more of? Candy? Or how about kittens? Yes, these are both very good answers, but they’re not what we’re looking for today. What we really need is more kindness. Thankfully, Will Glennon established The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation (RAK), which is a nonprofit organization that encourages…well…random acts of kindness! Today we’re going to learn the history of Random Acts of Kindness Day, the effects of kindness, and ways in which we can celebrate. Let’s get started.
The History of Random Acts of Kindness Day
In 1995, Will Glennon founded The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation. The nonprofit organization’s headquarters is located in Denver, Colorado, and its mission is to promote acts of kindness in our communities. The very first Random Acts of Kindness Day took place in 2004 in New Zealand and is traditionally held on September 1st, while the holiday is observed in the U.S. and in Canada on February 17th and November 4th, respectively.
The Effects of Kindness
Did you know that kindness actually has both emotional and physical effects on people? That’s right, whether you witness an act of kindness or you’re participating in one, it can have a positive effect on your health and well-being. For starters, when an act of kindness is witnessed, a hormone called oxytocin is released. Oxytocin provides a number of positive effects including improved heart-health, lower blood pressure, and increased self-esteem.
When we make gestures of kindness towards others, we feel more energetic and often have more “pep in our step,” as they say. Being consistently kind leads to feelings of increased self-worth, and reduced stress. Lastly, kindness stimulates the production of serotonin, which leads to feelings of calmness and happiness. So, it seems that acts of kindness are beneficial to all involved, but how can we celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Day?
Kindness for Students
As a student, there are likely many opportunities throughout your day to make the decision to be kind to someone else. Most simply, you can show a close friend, family member, or a professor how much you appreciate them. This can be done through words, or through actions such as surprising them with their favorite snack or offering to help them with an errand. If you’ve got some extra books laying around, why not consider donating them to your school’s library? This way, the enjoyment you had from your book can be passed on to others—and for free!
Perhaps you’ve noticed someone at school who seems lonely. A simple “hello” or “how’s your day?” goes a long way. Including others who have been left out is a great way to spread kindness, and you might even become good friends! Along with this, do your best to avoid being judgmental. No one knows the next person’s life experiences, so we should never make prejudgments. There’s an old saying that goes “if you have nothing nice to say, don’t say anything at all,” and that philosophy applies here.
Kindness for Professionals
Kindness in the corporate world? You bet! If you’ve got some extra time on your hands, ask a coworker if they need any help. Stepping in and assisting your fellow team members is a great way to spread positive feelings. Like we’ve said many times in the past—these types of behaviors are infectious, and your coworkers are likely to reciprocate the next time you need help.
If you’ve noticed that one of your coworkers is having a rough day, why not take them out to lunch? This simple gesture can provide at least a small distraction for someone else who is going through a tough time, and they’ll be happy you offered! Another excellent way to spread kindness all over the workplace is to give props to your coworkers when they’ve done a great job. As with positive feelings, giving props will create a wave of motivation among everyone in the nearby vicinity—your boss will be shocked at how much work is getting done!
Of course, acts of kindness aren’t reserved exclusively for the classroom and the workplace. Furthermore, they absolutely aren’t reserved to just one day or one week a year. The purpose of Random Acts of Kindness Day is to raise awareness of the fact that when we treat each other with fairness and thoughtfulness, the world is better place for all of us. So, on this day and every other day, take the time to be a good listener to a friend, or spend a few hours volunteering. If you want to see positive change in the world around you, then you must take action to be that change. To learn more about The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation, you can check out the official website here.
