Scatter Kindness

I love to do nice things for people. I always have, but sadly I don't always put my thoughts into action. This year I made a resolution to do one act of kindness a week. Obviously, more opportunities arise during an entire week to show kindness, but I wanted to find one purposeful way each week to brighten someone's day. I started out strong and recorded what I was doing to keep myself accountable. Then summer came, and I started losing track. While, I'm not sure I've hit every single week, I know I've been close.

This isn't to brag on myself. It's to encourage others to try to do the same as well. It can be something small, or big. It doesn't matter. Sometimes all someone needs is a nice smile.

Here are some ways I've found to scatter kindness that maybe you can try too!

I've sent out many cards during the year. I would pray and ask God who needed a little encouragement or maybe just some cheer. I LOVE getting handwritten letters, so I like to share my love of it by sending them to others. I even sent one to a McDonalds we frequent on road trips to thank them for their amazing service one day when Daniel spilled an entire frappe all over the tables, chairs and window.

Another super simple thing it just giving out compliments. I'm an introvert. A lot of times in public, I avoid eye contact and don't initiate conversation with a stranger. I made it a point a few times to step out of my comfort zone to compliment someone's hair, outfit or just to smile and say hello.

Baked goods. A perfect way to anyone's heart. Almost anyone enjoys receiving some homemade cookies or brownies!

A box of sunshine! What is that you ask? Well, look no further than Pinterest. A person dear to my heart was having a rough week after some of her family moved out of state. A box of sunshine is a gift basket filled with yellow goodies. Treats, candles etc. Anything yellow can go in a box of sunshine.

Pay it Forward in the drive thru. I've never been the recipient of this, but I've done this a couple of times. Driving away knowing that someone else is going to have something good happen to them is a fun feeling.

Donate clothes/food/toys.

Take a few extra minutes to stop and help someone who looks like they need some assistance.

I think my favorite thing we've done this year is our, "Kindness bags." I had several food items that either the boys got sick of or I bought and didn't like (not disgusting stuff, just things I didn't enjoy). Since the boxes were all opened, I figured donating was out (although things were individually wrapped.) I took Ziploc bags, put a few treats in and slipped an act of kindness card inside so people would understand what they were for. I took Daniel with me and explained what we were going to do. We picked some high traffic areas around town and distributed the bags. He had fun placing them around (although I had to remind him a few times that we didn't need to HIDE them!)

There are so many other ways, but these have all be successful. There is so much bad in the world. Go out and be the good!