By: Kathleen Donnelly, Director of Volunteer Services at the Gurwin Jewish Nursing & Rehabilitation Center
One of the most culturally significant phenomena of this century is the “happy face,” the simple smiling emoji seen everywhere: on merchandise, in the media, in our communications, even in skywriting! It’s so prevalent because its meaning is universally recognized – when you see a “happy face,” you know it means something good.
As humans, we seek a connection to others that has its basis in good feelings—and nothing brings out those good feelings like a random act of kindness. These are the little deeds that may seem insignificant, but that help fill the need for that personal, feel-good connection whether we are the receiver or the giver—and even if we do not know who our “kindness donor” is.
This week (February 14-20) is Random Acts of Kindness Week, a good time to remember that random acts of kindness have no boundaries. They can be spontaneous or planned…singular or group activity…occasional or continual. They can come from teens, adults and young children. A random act of kindness has probably touched every one of us at some time, and provided a moment when something totally unexpected produces happy surprise. Such moments usually invite more of the same, as we are prompted to “pay it forward” by doing a similar kindness for the next person.
Most will recall the story of a chain reaction created when one car going through a toll plaza paid the toll for the car following, and the second car paid for the third, and so on. The story made the news, but random acts of kindness are happening all around us all the time. From the simplest courtesy—holding the door for the next person, allowing a car to enter your lane of traffic – to the more significant—the snow-filled walkway that is magically cleared, the birthday balloons that appear out of nowhere, seeing that the should-have-expired parking meter has been fed—kindness is all around us. During Random Acts of Kindness Week, and throughout the entire year, kind people are setting examples and acting as role models for others who observe and learn from the actions that speak so much louder than words.
The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation sponsors Random Acts of Kindness Week, but this year their mission is greater – they want to make 2016 The Year of Kindness. And we can all help. Go to their website for ideas at https://www.randomactsofkindness.org/ideas/kindness, and commit to lighting that spark in others. You’ll be surprised how, in helping someone else, you just might be helping yourself.
