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Made You Smile Back encourages you to check out these special but unique random acts of kindness during a lockdown you can do during these times of uncertainty. After all, it’s ‘nice to be nice’ and I can’t think of a better time than now to do what we can as individuals in doing our part to find the ‘good’ in all of this chaos.
Fact… according to Worldometer.com, there are currently 5,707,637 confirmed cases and 352,746 deaths from the coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak as of May 27, 2020, 10:35 GMT.
Fact… in the USA, there have been 1,681,418 confirmed cases and 98,929 deaths with 384,902 people recovering from the virus.
Fact… in the state of Texas, where I live, there have been 54,509 confirmed cases and 1,506 deaths with 33,385 people recovering from the virus.
The good news is one thing that we have seen all over the world is that kindness is prevailing in uncertain times. We have learned that amid the fear, there is also community, support and hope.
Let’s never forget that it is always important to be kind to people. Kindness is needed now more than ever. With that in mind, let’s dive in as we find out what Made You Smile Back suggests as ten unique random acts of kindness we all can do.
Who has heard of ‘Ding Dong Ditch’? You know, what mischievous teenagers would do with too much time on their hands. They would ‘prank’ their unsuspecting neighbors (like putting toilet paper all over the yard and landscape, then ring the doorbell and run away while they look at the dismay on their neighbor’s faces when they open the door)?
Well, believe it or not, I decided to make this the unique featured random act of kindness and put it as number one. Why? Because it doesn’t have to be a prank!
Meg Campbell, owner and designer of Custom Solar Lanterns was writing a Facebook Post about doing a ‘ding dong ditch’ with her unique, one-of-a-kind solar lanterns as a gift! What a brilliant serendipity idea!
So, instead of putting toilet paper all over a neighbor’s yard, why not instead create a practical ‘gift basket’ which ironically, may include rolls of toilet paper (lol) and other goodies? And sure, why not get the kids involved in carrying this out?! Priceless, if you ask me!
Speaking of kids, another very special and unique random act of kindness one can do during maintaining of social distancing, etc. is doing some colorful artwork!
Lately, all over the United States and across the world, windows are being transformed into rainbows of hope for all to see when driving or strolling by on a neighborhood walk! Parents are participating too right alongside their children as they create ‘chalk masterpieces’ on their driveways and sidewalks!
If this doesn’t put a smile on your face, then nothing will!
I am thrilled to say that seamstresses all over the world today are busy at home putting love and care into their craft by sewing homemade face masks. When there is a will, there is a way.
When the world was complaining of having shortages, they got to work and knew what they had to do. Sometimes working long hours, thousands upon thousands of homemade face masks have been created. What a meaningful random act of kindness!
Why now, you can even find ‘designer’ face masks as well!
Did you know that flowers are at an all-time low price? Yes, so the next time you’re at the grocery store or market (with your face mask on of course…), why not pick up some flowers and then drop them off on your way home to one of your family members, friends or neighbors!?!
The 5th random act of kindness that Made You Smile Back caringly suggests is how about picking up the groceries for one of your senior neighbors and delivering to their doorstep?
Better yet, why not also prepare 2nd helpings of a home-cooked meal and drop that off as well?!? Nothing speaks of kindness more than sharing a meal with others. Right!
And speaking of all the wonderful delivery personnel who should be considered as part of the ‘front line’… why not do a random act of kindness towards them as well! Not only is tipping something we should be doing anyway, a gift card for groceries, etc. would go a long way in putting a grateful smile on their faces.
But let’s not stop here. Gift cards are also a nice gesture to randomly give to our healthcare workers, firefighters, police and other essential workers who may need a little ‘extra’ letting them know how appreciative you are for them!
Can you imagine what it must be like if you are one of the unlucky ones who are ill from contracting this insidious COVID-19 virus? You are immediately either hospitalized or told to be in quarantine for a minimum of 14 days! It is not only important, but it is a MUST that we come together and help any way we can to make this as comfortable for them as possible.
I know it’s been a while for many of us who have not taken out a sheet of paper and pen and actually wrote a handwritten letter. But let’s agree and do this. There is nothing more encouraging when your spirits are low but to receive a handwritten letter of hope and care to someone who is not feeling good.
It’s heartwarming to also see school-age children taking out their crayons and eagerly creating colorful and loving ‘Get Well Cards’ that are being sent to those in need. These are acts of kindness long remembered afterward.
In a previous blog I wrote, ‘The Magical Touch of Kindness’, I wrote about the powerful phenomenon known as the ‘ripple effect’ that takes place once the momentum of ‘paying it forward’ takes place. Let me explain.
How many of you have had the pleasure of being in a long line going through the drive-thru at Starbucks® and when you finally pull up to the window to pay, you’re told it’s already been paid for! Made you feel incredible didn’t it?
And I would be willing to bet that it made you feel so good, you decided to ‘pay it forward’ for the next person driving up behind you. It’s a proven scientific fact that random acts of kindness are not only contagious but can be exponentially impactful on the world as a whole.
Taking it a step forward, in addition to doing this while going through a drive-thru like Starbucks® or a Chik-Fil-A® that we are all familiar with, we can also do this generous random act of kindness and pay for the groceries for the person standing behind us in the grocery store!
Per NBC News®, reporter Yuliya Talmazan wrote:
“Even while stuck inside for days on end, Italians will still find a way to put on a show.
Italy, the hardest-hit country in Europe by the coronavirus pandemic, has in the second week of a nationwide lockdown, and scenes of support and solidarity continue to emerge across the country.
Italians are used to their streets and piazzas bustling with food, music and a sense of dolce vita, but the quarantine has erased much of that, leaving major cities almost deserted.”
As it so happens, I have a daughter studying for her Masters’ Degree in Milan, Italy. I’ll never forget the day she sent a ‘Whats-Up’ video of her apartment building peering over the balcony recording her neighbors literally ‘singing in Italian’ to one another! It brought tears to my eyes!
So, Made You Smile Back’s ninth suggested random act of kindness is to organize a block ‘singing or concert’ event to raise the spirits of your neighborhood! What fun would that be!
Made You Smile Back makes no apologies in intentionally featuring this 10th random act of kindness as the ultimate in actively doing. This is social distancing and it entails not only the wearing of a face mask when out of your home, but honoring the 6-foot rule for spacing as well.
Why do I see it as a ‘random act of kindness’? Because think about it, you may think it doesn’t make a difference but it does! By protecting YOURSELF, you’re also protecting or reducing the probability of getting someone else infected.
My fellow readers, please don’t become complacent because restrictions have been reduced in some locations of the country and/or world. Listen carefully… until and only until a viable vaccine has been developed and tested, then and only then can we lax our social distancing!
So… until then do yourself, your family, your friends, your neighbors and the rest of humanity a favor… practice responsible social distancing.
In closing, remember… kindness often costs very little, yet its value is immense. During these challenging times, I ask you, my readers, to actively participate and do your part in spreading ‘random acts of kindness’ and unexpected gestures to our friends, neighbors and strangers.
For there is no shortage of reasons to be stressed and concerned about our situation, but there are always spots of hope worth savoring, too. Many blessings to you all and stay safe.
Human nature works in mysterious ways. It’s our insides and human anatomy that contribute to the way we feel. It can lead to making you feel so special that you won’t bother thinking about things that make you miserable or it can make you feel even worse than you already are.
Since you don’t know how the person you are interacting with is living or how their day has been, be kind. Do things that can make them feel better, add a smile to someone’s day.
Kindness is the quality of being considerate, friendly, and generous. We are friendly to someone and expect them to be the same to us. We are considerate thinking that it will come back to us.
We all do something to get something in return. We help someone to make it easier for them, but in return somehow we feel good about ourselves when we are in the act.
Acts of kindness might not have motives but they do motivate you and the one you perform that act towards.
You choose the way you live and acquire that way into your daily life, stimulating good and much better things in your life to motivate and help you express yourself which can be considered a lifestyle.
Kindness too can be a lifestyle, the way you act can become your lifestyle, if you choose to be smart then you live a smart life, if you choose whatever suits you that becomes your lifestyle. Similarly, Kindness is both an act that leads to a lifestyle.
Anything that you do for a person which makes them feel good about themselves is considered an act of kindness. Some random acts of kindness are:
– Passing a smile
– Holding the door for someone
– Picking up something for people
– Complimenting people
– Paying for someone
– Planting a tree
– Doing something for free
– Helping out in daily chores
– Doing a favour without asking for anything in return
Doing anything that takes extra effort to do is the selfless thing you can do for anyone. Things that require being on the verge of your own happiness yet not caring about anything but someone’s well-being is considered selfless act.
Selfless things that you can do for anyone which will make you feel amazing about yourself such as:
– Forgive others
– Give up your seat for others
– Help someone lifting a heavy object
– Allow someone to merge in the traffic
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What a creative list of random acts! I love door bell ditch!
Denise, yes I think door bell ditch is my favorite during this COVID and now WINTER snowstorm lockdown. Thanks for sharing.
I love these! I especially like the idea of gift cards for delivery drivers. Lots of people leave them drinks or snacks, but what joy a giftcard would bring! Thanks for sharing these awesome ideas!
Lisa, thanks for your comments. Yes, gift cards are always a pleasure to receive! Even gas gift cards!
I love this so much. We definitely need to spread kindness as much as possible right now. I try to at least do the bare minimum and smile at people. I love the idea of giving gift cards to delivery drivers. Thank you for sharing this 🙂
I love this. We really need more acts of kindness in this crazy time that we’re living in. Great list. 🙂
Love your ideas! Thanks for sharing them. I especially like the one about paying it forward. Thanks for the post!
These suggestions made my heart so happy! What wonderful ways to build connection and stay safe at the same time. Sharing this to all my friends <3
Maria Black https://[email protected]
Maria, thank you for such positive comments about my blog concerning unique random acts of kindness during lockdown.
Love this! We all need to remember we’re ALL going through a tough time, so it’s important to help each other out. My aunt just gave me a bunch of flowers fresh from her garden yesterday, and it’s made me so happy, and probably will for the rest of the week. Such a simple nice gesture that didn’t even cost anything. Thanks for sharing this – Danielle
oh wow these tips are awesome! even those numbers of confirmed cases are scary, I love that this post is all about being positive and doing positive things to put a smile on people’s faces. I love the first idea! haha I might have to get a group together and carry that through. Thank you for sharing xo
Great ideas!
Even the smallest of gestures can make a big difference in someone’s life, especially right now. I purchased a custom tanktop from a local seamstress and she threw in free cloth masks for my husband and I when she made the delivery. It was such a sweet gesture and totally made my day!
My husband and I decided that we wanted to do something nice for our neighbours because they are awesome. We dropped a ‘thank you’ card with a handwritten note about why we love them as neighbours and inside we stuck a gift card for a local pizza place. Everyone needs that little boost right now!
Such cute ideas tgat definitely bring a smile on the face. Thanks for sharing these
Great list of random acts of kindness, Beth. I must admit the expression ‘ding dong dash’ is new to me but what a wonderful one it is. I love the idea of a block party and finding something to celebrate. Italian singing also makes me emotional.
Loved these ideas! I live in the country so singing loudly outside would be okay. Trust me–if I lived close to any neighbors–they would not appreciate my “non” musical voice. 🙂
Oh the handwritten notes…sigh how I miss them!! Yes, we need to get back to some simple traditions. Kindness is the only way. Thank you for sharing these great tips ❤️
Stephanie, thanks for your positive uplifting comments. Yes there’s nothing like receiving a handwritten note. Many blessings to you.
Really uplifting post! Sidewalk chalk drawings have also grown popular in my neighborhood as well.
Macy, thanks for the compliment. Yes, I love seeing those chalk drawings in my neighborhood as well!
Lovely post! very inspiring <3
Maria, thanks for the positive comment.
Great post! In Ohio, instead of rainbows of hope, we are all putting bears in our windows for kids to count when traveling and also for hope. I love the rainbow idea as well!
Chelsea, thank you for your positive comments. I love the idea of putting bears in the windows as well.
These are great ideas!!
We’ve been writing a lot of letters and chalking our sidewalk with encouraging messages.
I definitely want to try some of these!
And I super love that you’ve included social distancing!
Sarah, thank you for your comments. Yes, I have to say, I’ve seen several chalk ‘rainbows’ in the last couple of weeks around my neighborhood!
This was so encouraging and such a needed reminder that kindness doesn’t cost much to give. I’m going to choose a few to do with my family in the next few days!
Jen, thank you for your positive comments. Yes kindness doesn’t cost anything other than giving of ourselves to others. Many blessings.
I love these unique ideas!
Andrea, thank you for your positive comment.
I love this! As a school counselor I love celebrating Random Acts of Kindness week with my students in February… but this is a perfect time to think of new & creative ways to make the world a brighter place! ?
Tana, yes I agree, RAOK is for all year round.
Putting plants/flowers in a flower box for a friend who’s mother’s house is here, but my friend lives 4 hours away. Her father, Bless his heart in heaven, built the box and her mother, Bless her heart in heaven, was a dear friend of mine. It’s just a way to honor them and help my 4 hour away friend, keep some beauty, in the yard.
Andrea, that was an incredibly kind gesture. Many blessings.
All of these are truly amazing Things 🙂
Meg, thanks for your positive comment.