Have you ever been on the receiving end of a Random Act of Kindness?'

Maybe someone sent you flowers or you received a ‘thinking of you’ card. Or maybe someone made you cookies or sent over dinner. Did someone do something unexpected for you at home? Like taking the dog for a walk. Or tried to be very quiet so you could nap. Or emptied the dishwasher without being asked. ALL of those are Random Acts of Kindness. An unexpected or unasked for kindness.

They are all ‘thank you so very much moments’ aren’t they?  Sometimes they come when you need them the most and you don't even know it.  AND sometimes you don’t even know who even sent or paid for the Random Act of Kindness that you received.

Now, if you know me at all you know that I smile and laugh a lot.  My laugh is very distinctive – crazy and loud. Is that a good thing or a bad thing?  I will leave that up to you to decide 🙂 I do love to laugh and I do love to experience joy everyday. I totally believe that the glass is always half full and never half empty. With that said…

I have been thinking about our world as it is today. About kindness.

It seems that, for some reason, we have lost our way as it pertains to kindness.  We seem to think that it’s ok to be mean. To criticize. To mock or ridicule. To offer unsolicited negative comments. To put down and condemn. And I find that just so sad. I wonder if it’s the fact that we are hidden from view and the other person can’t see us. We believe we are ‘anonymous’. I really don’t know.

What I do know is this….we need to be kind in this world.  We need to smile more. Think of others more. Offer words of affirmation rather than words that hurt. Personally, I think that ‘Random Acts of Kindness’ are just amazing. Rather than hiding to be mean….let’s hide to do good.

I remember the 1st time I received a Random Act of Kindness. I was in a drive thru and when I got to the cashier’s window to pay, I was told that the car pulling away in front of me had paid for my meal.  I was astounded and touched to the core. Ever since then I have continued with my own random acts of kindness.

What is a ‘Random Act of Kindness’?  

A ‘Random Act of Kindness’ is when you do something without expecting anything in return or without being told or asked. Like holding the door open. Buying someone lunch.  Taking cookies to a friend. Sending a card for no reason. Paying for a dessert or a meal. Offering to help. Or, just smiling at someone.

Because I love this so much I have put together a 30 Day ‘Random Act of Kindness’ Challenge for you and everyone you know.

What is the Random Act of Kindness Challenge? It is an opportunity for you, your kids, your grandkids, husband, mom, dad, or friend to complete at least 1 random act of kindness every day.  Just 1. You can do that, right? Small Random Acts of Kindness are great too.

A random act of kindness can definitely spread like a forest fire.  I am hoping that we can fan the flame and spread kindness all over the world. Are you in?

To help you out I have created and put together:

• 120+ different ‘Random Act of Kindness’ ideas for you (I keep thinking of more and adding them).  There are ideas for both adults and kids.
• ‘Random Act of Kindness’ cards for you to print out and give to everyone who receives one of your random acts of kindness. (they are pretty cute I must say). Adult and kid versions too:)
• ‘Random Act of Kindness’ journal pages.  This is where you can log all of your RAK’s because sometimes it is hard to remember.  And it’s fun to look back. There is one for adults and one for kids.

Are you ready?  This is going to be so fun – I promise. AND it’s free!

Enter your details below. You will receive your idea list for the 1st week so you can start right away!

You will also receive the Random Acts of Kindness cards and the journal pages (both are PDF downloads).

Each week, for the next 4 weeks, I will send your next 25+ ‘Random Act of Kindness’ ideas for that week.  And of course, you can use any of your own that you think of or the ones from the week before.

What should you do?

1. Take a look at the ideas. Pick one to do ahead of time OR as you go about your day look for an opportunity to gift a RAK. Kids especially love to plan ahead!
2. Include a card (or 2) with each of your RAK’s.  Hopefully these cards will inspire people to pay it forward and we can spread this like a forest fire!
3. AND, I would LOVE LOVE LOVE for you to post in the comments below what you did, how it went, and anything else you would like to share.  I will be posting these comments on social media (anonymous of course). I think the world needs to know what you are doing!
4. If you are on Instagram tag #PJRAK. I will share these comments as well. Videos are welcome too!

Before you go I would like to tell you a little story.

This is a completely random act of kindness that totally changed the course of someone’s life.  I was just being me and I had no idea it would be so eternal:

Years ago I was walking in the Walmart parking lot.  As I was walking towards the store a girl was heading my way. I noticed she looked rough.  Pretty disheveled and ‘ready to fall over’ type of rough. I smiled at her and almost kept walking but for some reason I stopped and asked her if she was ok.  She just shrugged and looked away.

I stopped where I was and watched her walk to her car. I noticed that her car had more bondo on it than paint.  It was a wreck.

I decided to give her my name and phone number, just in case she needed anything. I walked to her car. The inside was filled to the brim with stuff. Clothes, blankets, trash, trash and more trash.  I was wondering if she was living in it.

I told her that I was worried about her and asked if she needed anything. She said no. I gave her my number and told her that if she needed anything to please call. Food, gas, it didn’t matter.  Just call. And then I went about my business.

Fast forward to about 4 years later. I was in a business meeting with a bunch of people. There was a pretty and very well dressed woman. She looked vaguely familiar to me but I had no idea who she was.  And, being the curious person that I am…I asked her.

She proceed to tell me that I smiled at her in the Walmart parking lot and that I took the time to give her my name and phone number.  She said I completely changed her life. She was on the brink of maybe ending her life because she just couldn’t figure out why she should keep on living. No one seemed to care. My smile shifted the balance of all those negative thoughts inside of her. Someone did care – ever so fleetingly. She decided to keep on living. She told me that her life was currently amazing and wonderful. WOW!

I am not telling you this to pat myself on the back. If you know me, I smile at everyone.  (I don’t usually give out my name and phone number). I am sharing this because you never know whose life you might change. You never know what hangs in the balance.

So, go on and get out there.  Change a few lives.  Make a few people smile.  Help out someone who may be in need.  Or is lonely and needs a kind smile or a helping hand. Participate in the Random Act of Kindness Challenge. You got 30 days don't you?

Don’t forget to write them all down in your journal pages.  I can’t wait to see what you do!