Celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Week

Kathleen Anderson

February is just a few short days away and brings with it my favorite holiday of the year — the Random Acts of Kindness Week. The week runs from Feb. 9 through Feb. 15 and culminates with Random Acts of Kindness Day on Feb. 17. 

There is no end to how this week and day can be celebrated, with random acts of kindness done openly, like allowing traffic to merge, or by my favorite, secretly, where only you know what was done. 

Either way, in my mind, it is great fun to be on the giving or receiving end. And with all the challenges going on in the world today, kindness is definitely needed. 

Now there is even a group known as RAKivists, which stands for Random Acts of Kindness Activist. 

Who are the RAKivists? 

These are the people who turn ordinary days into something special with small, thoughtful gestures — like a sincere smile or offering a seat on the bus. 

These acts of kindness reconnect us with our humanity, reminding us of the love in the world and inspiring us to pay it forward. RAKtivists aim to make kindness the norm, by connecting passionate people who share ideas, resources and celebrate everyday kindness, making it a way of life. 

According to the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation there are currently 115,293 RAKtivists from 89 different countries signed up on their website alone. Clearly, there is room for more of us. 

In addition to paying for a child’s school lunch for a month or a coffee for someone in line behind you, below are a few suggestions from their website on how to spread kindness in our neighborhoods:  

• Visit the nearest little library and donate a book. (The JOLT News has a list of their locations.) 

• Write positive messages on sticky notes and leave them for others to find. 

• Celebrate someone you love. 

• Compliment with reckless abandon. 

• Donate used towels or blankets to a shelter. 

• Leave snacks and refreshments for delivery drivers. 

• Take time to play a game with a child in your life. 

• Shop locally and support small businesses. 

Earlier this year, two of my great-grands (with a little help from their Granny) delivered some home-baked goodies to our local fire department and were rewarded for their efforts with a tour of the entire station. It made a lasting impression on everyone involved.  

Help spread the word! 

Set an example for others. Educators can become a Certified Kindness School and/or Classroom via the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation. 

In today’s world, cultivating a culture of kindness within our school community is more important than ever. A Certified Kindness School is not just a place where students learn academic skills; it’s a space where compassion, respect and empathy thrive. Becoming a Certified Kindness School and/or Classroom is easy by following a few easy steps on their website. 

If you think this is a small thing, I will remind you that the reason you may be using a computer today is most probably because Steve Jobs gave 9,000 free Apple Computers to California schools in the early 1980s. Children can often lead the way to change. 

The Random Acts of Kindness website also offers the following ideas for promoting kindness in the workplace. This Kindness in the Workplace action planning guide includes free posters and seven key ingredients that make for a positive and kind culture where people want to show up and do their best: 

• Setting a tone 

• Modeling behavior 

• Creating a safe and supportive environment 

• Strengths, mistakes and growth mindset  

• Trust, boundaries and belonging 

• Communication and collaboration 

• Celebrate 

Whether you participate in this special week by yourself or with a group, you may be pleasantly surprised at what it can do for you personally, and who knows? It may even become a year-long event. 

All the above and more can be found at https://www.randomactsofkindness.org/