Celebrate Random Acts Of Kindness Day

When: February 17

Random acts of kindness are beautiful, unexpected gifts to others, human and otherwise!

The ironic thing is that they are not just gifts for the recipient, the unselfish act of giving can also fill the heart and soul of the giver.

Why celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Day? – Random Acts of Kindness Day is a simple way for everyone to spread positive energy through a small act of kindness. It’s an opportunity to not only give to others but to also create a chain reaction of positive events.

Random acts of kindness may help to improve mental health. There is some evidence that working to help others can be a way to cope positively with one’s own problems. Some people find that their own problems seem less severe when they help others, and the positive regard many people receive when they do kind things can help improve their mood. While a random act of kindness is not a substitute for mental health treatment, it can help people feel better about themselves and those around them.
goodtherapy.org

Here is a beautiful little video by RAK – The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation.

Who Started Random Acts Of Kindness?

The phrase “random acts of kindness” has been touted in…

a movie called Pay It Forward
in a children’s book titled Random Acts of Kindness by Dawna Markova
in a theater play called Incomplete and Random Acts of Kindness

…and probably many other areas as well. But where did this all begin? Who started it?

The holiday comes from the phrase written in 1982 reportedly on a placement in a diner in California by Anne Herbert.

“Practice random acts of kindness and senseless acts of beauty,” which was a good-hearted antonym to the common newsspeak phrase “ransom acts of violence and senseless acts of cruelty.” The phrase was originally written by a woman named Anne Herbert, and was to be an inspirational quote printed on a placemat.
mandatory.com

The phrase took off and has since become not only a world wide holiday and mindset but a non-profit organization as well.

The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation (aka RAK) is a nonprofit company based in Denver, Colorado. They were founded in 1995.

What Day Is Random Acts Of Kindness Day?

February 17th is officially the Random Acts of Kindness Day here in the United States and many other countries around the world. Some of the other places that celebrate it on the same day include New Zealand, Canada, and the United Kingdom (UK).

There is also a World Kindness Day which is celebrated on November 13th.

What Day Is Random Act Of Kindness 2023?

In 2023, Random Acts of Kindness Day falls on a Thursday (Friday, February 17, 2023).

And, if you really want to keep the celebration and kind acts going, you can start at the beginning of the week of February 27th and do a kind act throughout the entire week (which is the official Random Acts Of Kindness Week).

But, why stop there? Make kindness happen by doing nice things for people every day of the year, instead of just on one special day.

What Is A Good Quote About Kindness?

Acts of kindness bring joy to both the giver and receiver. Sometimes they can create a “pay it forward mentality” that can change people’s lives. Here are some great quotes about kindness.

Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do the same for you.
Princess Diana

“Go and love someone exactly as they are. And then watch how quickly they transform into the greatest, truest version of themselves. When one feels seen and appreciated in their own essence, one is instantly empowered.” – Wes Angelozzi

Kindness is the only service that will stand the storm of life and not wash out. It will wear well and will be remembered long after the prism of politeness or the complexion of courtesy has faded away.
Abraham Lincoln

Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.
Desmond Tutu

Sometimes it takes only one act of kindness and caring to change a person’s life.
Jackie Chan

When words are both true and kind, they can change the world.
Buddha

Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.
Mark Twain

How Do You Celebrate Random Acts Of Kindness Day?

Celebrating National Random Acts of Kindness Day can be done any way you like. What I mean is that you can make it as small or as big as you would like it to be.

But just in case you need some ideas for ways to spread a little love and random kindness, here are some easy ways to get you started:

Random Acts Of Kindness Ideas

Bringing your co-workers a cup of coffee or bake cookies to put in the break room on a gloomy Monday morning.
Doing the laundry for your spouse, a family members or your room mate.
Offering to clean (vacuum, dust, etc) someone’s home when they are unable to.
Helping a senior person to care for their pet by walking their dog, bringing in those heavy boxes of kitty litter, taking the pet to the vet, etc.
Showing up to take your friend’s dog out for a walk when your friend isn’t feeling well.
Paying for the person behind you at the grocery store or some other store.
Drop a few quarters into an expired (or almost expired) parking meter.
Donating old clothes and household items to Goodwill, Salvation Army, your local pet shelter’s thrift store, etc.
Donating your time and helping out at your nearby animal shelter or a homeless shelter
Offering to spend time with an elderly person so that their caregiver can get some time away.
Calling your neighbor when you’re going to the grocery store to ask if they need anything.
Donating your time and skills. If you can play piano, donating piano lessons to a needy child would be an example.
Get a group of your friends together to volunteer at some local charity in your area.
Challenge each of your friends to celebrate random acts of kindness day in their own way.
Buy a week’s worth of groceries for someone you know is having financial problems. A senior person who is living just on social security is a good example.
Throw a party for all your friends and family with the purpose of raising money for a charity.
If someone “snaps” at you, instead of snapping back simply say something like “I’m sorry you are having a bad day, I do hope it gets better.”
Call someone you haven’t spoken to in a while just to catch up.
Send flowers to your mother-in-law to thank her for giving you your spouse.
Run an errand for an elderly person in your neighborhood, family, etc.
Challenge yourself to do 1 random acts of kindness every day for 2 weeks.
Offer compliments like candy to everyone you meet.
Go out for a meal and give a generous tip to your server.
Offer to help someone who needs help with a project at home or at work.

These, and so many more are just some examples of how you can make a significant impact on Random Acts of Kindness Day this February 17th So go ahead – take the challenge!

Click here for the free Random Acts of Kindness printable calendar filled with daily suggestions on how you can do good deeds and spread small acts of kindness to make the world a better place.