by Gautam Jindal, Chief Resident, Nurselim Tekin, Senior Resident and Neha Bullywon, Senior Resident
Today, February 17th, is observed as Random Acts of Kindness Day to celebrate the generosity of strangers and loved ones alike. This initiative was started in 1995 by the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation, which believes: Even the smallest act of kindness can have a profound effect. It is scientifically proven that the act of doing good can be as powerful as receiving good.
On Random Acts of Kindness Day, please be kind and grateful – it costs nothing. Words of encouragement, a listening ear, a smile or even just a kind expression can make a huge difference to those who need it most.
You can perform these random acts of kindness on this Random Acts of Kindness Day:
- Say Hello to someone: Often we don’t or miss calling the people who are important to us or someone who is outside your work routine, would make someone’s day.
- Compliment someone: Our jobs help us earn a living, they enable us to live better lives for ourselves and for our families. However, not everyone has the pleasure of experiencing the wonder that a genuine compliment can be. It can boost someone’s morale. It will start a kind of altruistic snowball effect!
- Donate books: A book is a window to the world. Instead of dumping old books in the trash, you could bind them and donate them to the nearest library, cafe or school, where the worn pages might open someone’s eyes to a new world.
- Buy an extra item from the supermarket and donate: You might want to buy staples in a little more quantity the next time you’re at the grocery store. It won’t cost you anything, and the poor will certainly benefit. If we have a little more than others, let’s contribute to spreading a cheer among the less fortunate.
- Ditch Plastic: Everyone in the world is affected by it!
- Spend time with the elders: Volunteer to work at a care home for a day or even just have a nice day with your grandparents. After these difficult times, they were impacted the most. A listening ear and a warm heart can do wonders for their mental and physical health.
And, lastly – Being kind to yourself is the best act of kindness you can perform without spending any money or exerting any effort. Don’t berate yourself for things you can’t change. When speaking to oneself, be polite to yourself and focus on what you can do rather than what you can’t. Kindness to oneself will automatically lead to kindness to others.
Again, participating in an act of kindness and witnessing how it makes someone feel can help us recognise how our actions affect those around us. It gives us a sense of belonging and value in the larger community by making us feel like we’re a part of something bigger than ourselves. Being nice is also a fantastic foundation for forging connections, forming relationships, and expanding one’s social network, all of which help to alleviate feelings of loneliness and isolation. It also keeps things in perspective to allow you to understand and enjoy life when times are grim.