Its National Others Week 2015 this week and here is a list of possible things you could do to promote community through acts of kindness.

I am really interested to hear your National Others Week stories so please post your stories in the comments.

Community.

• Show some chivalry, open a door for a woman.
• Send a thank you note to a soldier.
• Leave change in the vending machine.
• Leave extra time in the parking metre.
• Take a dozen Krispy Kremes to the local Ambulance Station.
• Take cup cakes into your child’s class.
• Bring your assistant coffee.
• When you’re on a crowded train or bus, offer your seat to an elderly, disabled or pregnant person.
• Let a fellow driver merge into your lane.
• Put your shopping cart back in its place.
• Write a note to the boss of someone who helps you, and explain how great a job that person is doing.
• Throw away your trash—and someone else’s—after a movie, picnic or visit to a park.
• Tip generously…even though its not expected in Australia.
• Pay for someone’s fuel at the petrol station.
• Tape a nice saying or thought to the bus window.
• Donate books to your local library.
• Donate blood.
• Put up anonymous encouraging post it notes for strangers to find.

Workplace

• Tell your boss some of the good things about working for him.
• Do the task no one in the office wants to do.
• Don’t leave others waiting for you. Respect their time.
• Bring a welcome gift to a new co-worker.
• Give up your seat for someone
• Bring a box of doughnuts to share at the office.
• Don’t interrupt when someone is explaining herself.
• At work, offer to transfer a caller who needs help from another department.

Neighbour

• Invite the kids in your neighbourhood to a pizza party.
• Mow someone else’s lawn.
• Offer to pick up groceries for an elderly neighbour, especially in extreme weather.
• Give a homeless person your doggie bag.
• Introduce yourself to your neighbours.
• Buy the stuff your neighbours kids are selling….such as a lemonade stand.
• Family
• Say Thank You more.
• Write a letter to a child who could use some extra attention. Kids love getting mail.
• Say “I love you” to someone you love.
• Say “please” and “thank you”—and really mean it.
• Simply say “I’m sorry” when you’re wrong.
• Call your Parents and tell them you love them.
• Don’t be annoying – Make a conscious effort to avoid doing the things you know annoy your spouse (or roommates)
• Write a thank you note to your parents.
• Send one of your siblings an anonymous gift.
• Call your inlaws and tell them they created an amazing person.

Random

• Smile at everyone you see.
• Send flowers to a friend.
• Shout someone a Coffee.
• Write a hand written encouragement note to someone.
• Listen to older people tell the stories of their past.
• Cook someone who is ill a meal.
• Let another go first.
• Plant a tree.
• Pick up litter.
• Give an unexpected gift.
• Donate to a charity that is working in an area that you are passionate about.
• Say “Good morning” to a person standing next to you in the elevator.
• Take a minute to direct someone who is lost, even though you’re rushing.
• Help a mother carry her baby stroller up the subway stairs, or hold a door open for her.
• Each time you get a new item of clothing, give away something old.
• Take someone’s shift as the car-pool parent.
• Offer to baby-sit for a single mum.
• Call or write to a teacher who changed your life.
• Forgive someone a debt–and never bring it up again
• Listen with all your senses.
• Encourage someone who seems despondent.
• Volunteer to take care of a friend’s dog while he is vacationing.
• Help a friend pack for a move.
• Ask someone “How are you really doing?”—and then really listen to his/her response.
• Offer change when the person in front of you at the register comes up short.
• Before a friend moves away, give her your favourite recipe or quote and a photo of the two of you together.
• Leave a generous tip for a pleasant waiter.
• Pass along a great book you’ve just finished reading.
• Befriend a lonely person.
• Compliment a stranger.
• Hold your tongue.
• Make extra copies of photos and send them to the people who are in the images.
• Reach out to a person who has made a significant difference in your life….tell them what they have meant to you and why. Bonus points if you put this in a hand written letter.
• Try to find goodness in a person you don’t like.
• Be Patient.
• Bake a cake for a person whose birthday it is.
• Be the eternal optimist in your circle of friends.
• Recognize the good in others.
• Leave nice comments on Blogs, Twitter and Facebook.
• Give chocolate generously.
• Compliment people in front of others.
• Do something nice for some one – but do it anonymously.
• Be someone’s cheerleader
• Stand up for the underdog.
• Avoid gossip.
• Be understanding.
• Write a thank you note to your child’s teacher.
• Call someone you haven’t talked to for a while.
• Appreciate your pastor or some group leader.
• Buy dessert for someone eating alone.
• Buy an extra umbrella to give away on a rainy day.
• Invite someone you don’t know all that well, over for dinner and watch a new friendship grow.
• Forgive a person you used to hate back in the day.
• Be super enthusiastic when people give you good news.
• Give a glowing recommendation.
• Have you discovered something that has changed your life? – Share what you know and inspire others to change their lives too.
• Make someone laugh.
• Make time.

Keep being awesome.

Ps Peter Pilt

National Director Global Care.

Categories: Creative ideas, Global Care, Motivational

Tags: 2015, Get your kind on, INC, International Network of Churches, Kind, Kindness, National Others Week, NOW, NOW 2015, Peter Pilt on Kindness, Power of Kindness