Random Acts of Kindness Day

1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic by 11 people | Log in to rate

Ranked #331 in Volunteering, #59,652 overall

A Holiday Worth Celebrating Throughout the Year

Officially Random Acts of Kindness Day is an unofficial Holiday. The banks don't close, picnics are rarely planned, and there's no flag commemorating the day, but it was mentioned by the radio talk show host I used to listen to on my way to work. He thought it was an interesting piece of trivia and went so far as to offer a couple of suggestions. He thought the valet standing in the pouring down rain deserved an extra big smile, and being kind meant not telling your co-worker that her new dress was hideous. The radio host thought his remarks were funny, I thought they were cruel. I haven't listened to him since.

There is not enough kindness in the world, and it's sad to think we need a holiday to remind us to offer a helping hand or words of encouragement. It is something we should do everyday without conscious thought, or the need for compensation.

Celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Day Today!

Sometimes a Kind Word is Not Enough

What Does it Mean to be Kind? 

According to Webster's kindness is the act or state of being kind. It is marked by charitable behavior, a mild disposition, pleasantness, and tenderness toward others.

Kindness is considered one of the Seven Heavenly Virtues. It is in direct opposition to the Deadly Sin Envy.

Envy can slither through the grass unnoticed until it's within striking distance...
Sometimes it builds slowly until one day it overwhelms you...
It's all consuming...
It's a monster.

An act of kindness can keep the monster at bay...

"Kindness is helpfulness towards someone in need, not in return for anything, nor for the advantage of the helper himself, but that of the person helped." Aristotle


Recognize Kindness
It comes in many shapes and forms.

Charity 

Charity is another word for almsgiving. It is an act of giving money, goods, or time to the less fortunate. It can be directly or through a charitable trust. The charity's listed on Squidoo are technically charitable trusts.

Charity fulfills a need.

There are many forms of charity but the most common are concerned with providing food and shelter to the poor, sick and disabled. The goal is to give them what they need to survive.

The definition of charity has expanded over the years to include research facilities, animal shelters, and educating the masses. Charity fulfills a need and the need is growing every day.

The most satisfying thing in life is to have been able to give a large part of one's self to others.
- Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

The Need is Great

Philanthropy 

The meaning of the world philanthropy is "to love people". Like charity, philanthropy is an act of donating money, goods and services, but charity is geared toward the needy. Philanthropy provides a mean of improving the quality of life for all. Philanthropists are usually wealthy and their contributions are often a major source of income for museums, libraries, and institutions of higher learning.

While many people contribute a great deal of time, effort, and money to charitable organizations, they are rarely considered philanthropists. Our efforts alone do not have the same impact. Does that mean they don't need us? That our efforts are wasted?

Absolutely not!

No act of kindness, no matter how small, is every wasted. - Aesop

Full Circle 

I am not a philanthropist. I will never have the means to quality for such a title, but a simple act of kindness, a pat on the back, a smile, or word of encouragement may be the pivotal point in a chain reaction. The kindness can spread, upward and outward.

If it doesn't, well I'll try again tomorrow.

It's Random Act of Kindness Day, and I love to celebrate the holidays.

Healthy, Wealthy, and Wise 

Healthy, Wealthy and Wise: 52 Life-Changing Lessons for the Twenty-first Century, Inspired by Ben Franklin

Healthy, Wealthy and Wise: 52 Life-Changing Lessons for the Twenty-first Century, Inspired by Ben Franklin

by: Andrea Rains Waggener

Amazon Price: $12.95 (as of 12/20/2009)Buy Now

You will find, as you look back on your life, that the moments that stand out are the moments when you have done things for others. ---Henry Drummond

Do you celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Day?  

submit
Show All

About the Author 

Lensmaster ElizabethJeanAllen has been a member since March 16 2008, has rated 4,014 lenses, favorited 445, and has created 200 lenses from scratch. Lizzy Jean donates their royalties to Squidoo Charity Fund. This member's top-ranked page is "2009 Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments". See all my lenses

Rocket Moms Charity Lenses 

featured lens Nickels for the Needy - Pennies for the Poor

By saving nickels and pennies, you can help change the world! The March of Dimes, as many of the older generations remember, helped cure polio by actually collecting DIMES. I remember we would get a little booklet with dime-sized slots from school....

featured lens Freedom Fest in Pendleton SC

Freedom Fest in Pendleton South Carolina is an old fashioned Patriotic community celebration that is fun for the whole family. We have Games For The Children with prizes, Great Food including watermelon wedges, Live Music, Bingo with the Mayor, Bake...

featured lens Shriners Hospital

Shriners Hospitals for Children is a one-of-a-kind international health care system of 22 hospitals dedicated to improving the lives of children by providing specialty pediatric care, innovative research and outstanding teaching programs. Children u...

The proceeds for this lens are donated to the Squidoo Charity Fund.

by ElizabethJeanAllen

I tell my students to Learn from the Past, Live in the Present, and Plan for the Future. With Squidoo I can do all three.

FlowersFast.com (more)

Explore related pages

Style Six Silk Screener
Searching out the coolest new gift? This Silk screening clothing has never been...
Unique Aprons For Women
When aprons were first worn, it was because it was a practical necessity. Years...
Acts of Kindness on Squidoo: Paying it Forward
Don't you love being on the receiving end of acts of kindness? Simple acts o...
Three Cups of Tea
We hear the phrase a lot that one man can make a difference. Which makes it all...
Cupcake carrying cases and boxes
So instead of toting your yummy treats covered in plastic wrap, or giving your g...
Unusual gifts for Christmas
If you ask people to choose just one word to describe what Christmas is all abou...

Related Topics

ElizabethJeanAllen Recommends...

Create a Lens!