Random Acts of Kindness

One must be very careful and extremely cautious when committing a random act of kindness.

Self-congratulations and warm, fuzzy feelings are not all that you may feel. You may also be overcome with feelings of happiness, joy, delight, and a greater sense of self-worth.

You may even feel an emotional lift, especially if you are down or depressed. In some situations a random act of kindness may be just what you need to raise your vibrational level and move your emotional state into a more positive realm.

A Random Act of Kindness (RAK) is described by Wikipedia as “A selfless act performed by a person wishing to either assist or cheer up an individual or in some cases an animal. There will generally be no reason other than to make people smile or be happier.”

There have been moments in all of our lives when we were a recipient of someone's random act of kindness. Recall how you felt when it happened to you. Even if it was a small act, you probably smiled, nodded your head and said 'thank you'. That kindness may have even lifted your spirits and carried you through your day. The next time you are inspired to perform a random act of kindness perhaps even while you are reading this chapter, do not hesitate to do it and help spread the joy.

They are actions for which no expectation for reward or recognition is sought. They are actions that can range from simply smiling at strangers on the street, assisting an elderly person with their groceries or holding an elevator door so someone can enter or leave. They can also include anonymously donating a large sum of money to a charitable group who digs water wells in Africa providing people with clean water and help alleviate the cholera epidemic.

A random act of kindness does not have to be anonymous. The core attribute of a person who performs random acts of kindness is in the pure nature of the actions. The reward or recognition, the payback, comes from within. No return is expected from the receiver of a random act of kindness. However, the giver does receive a reward in the feelings of satisfaction, an expression of gratitude and gratification. The positive feelings created by performing a random act of kindness are the reward, the payback. We are paying ourselves for our generosity and kindness.

You may also find yourself on the receiving end of a random act of kindness, thereby even further enhancing your positive emotional state. You may become so enraptured by the feelings evoked by your random act of kindness that you catch yourself performing them every day. You could become a random act of kindness junkie.

I attribute much of my success in life to the encouragement, support and love of my wife of over 38 years. I also attribute our having met to two random acts of kindness I performed. Had I not acted on both of those occasions as I had I would not have followed the path that lead me to the success I have enjoyed. I would most certainly not be the person I am today. Those random acts of kindness changed my life in very positive and profound ways.

Happiness and a conce
for the well being of others are, in my opinion, two primary emotions driving a person to do a random act of kindness. An action taken on behalf of another when the giver can only derive a feeling of self-worth or a sense of personal value defines altruism. But, what is the driver of altruism?

The production of feel good chemicals in the brain causes the feeling of positive emotions. Random acts of kindness must cause the brain to produce these chemicals. I know I always feel good after performing a random act of kindness. It gives me a higher sense of my own self-worth. I feel good about myself and believe that one act of kindness will result in other random acts. I recommend that everyone perform one random act of kindness a day. It really doesn’t take much. A smile, a nod of recognition or hello, to a stranger will do. Random acts of kindness could, quite literally change the world and create a positive environment for everyone. It may only be a small step, but it's a start.

There are millions of stories of people performing and benefiting from random acts of kindness. Someone should write a book!!

Acts performed with the intention of impressing others or that are done to seek attention are not random acts of kindness. If you lend someone a helping hand with the expectation that you will receive something of value in return does not qualify you for the Random Act of Kindness award or even honorable mention. Random acts of kindness do not include actions taken to satisfy you own personal greed or avarice.

There are many acts you can do that are positive and add to the list of the good that also result in recognition, awards, citations, accolades or standing ovations. Donating to a charity, organizing a charitable function, engaging in community volunteering such as a soup kitchen or a homeless shelter, delivering food baskets to the needy, mentoring disadvantaged children are all wonderful and worthwhile activities. They give those served a sense that someone cares and believes in their value as human beings. They give those who serve a feeling of satisfaction and inner reward.

These are not, however, random acts of kindness. They are good works and have social value. But, to be a true random act of kindness the action should be unplanned (random) and the only reward should be a self-congratulatory pat on the back.

Every day courtesies -- holding the door open, allowing another to go ahead of you in line, helping an elder to cross the street, saying 'thank you' and 'you’re welcome' and many others -- may or may not be random, but they are certainly acts of kindness. The circumstances giving rise to the opportunities to act may fall outside the definition of randomness. However, these actions can and often do have the same effect as a random act.

Simple courtesies are often missing from our hectic daily lives. We seem to sometimes forget that when we overlook being nice to another person we can set into motion a series of negative events. Failing to hold the door open for the woman behind you could cause the door to slam shut causing the woman to walk into the door breaking her nose. As she falls backward she stumbles into the man behind her. He trips and falls backward hitting his head on the concrete floor. Both people go to the hospital where the ambulance that took them backs into the hospital's emergency room doors. The vibrations from the ambulance hitting the doors knocks over an oxygen tank causing it to explode. The explosion starts a fire that burns down the hospital. All because YOU did not have the courtesy to hold a door open for another person. I hope you're happy now! See what you caused!! How can you live with yourself knowing what havoc you have created?

In all seriousness, be kind, courteous and thoughtful to others and the positive vibrations you generate will come back to you ten fold.