40 Ways to Make our World a Better Place

by Pam Molnar

If you have ever experienced a random act of kindness, you know what joy a simple act can produce. This month, encourage your family to spread that kindness to the people who cross your paths during the holiday season and beyond.

Make Someone’s Day

1. Let someone ahead of you in line at the store.
2. Compliment someone on their hair, clothes, nail polish or new car.
3. Ask a friend about their day and let them vent.

4. Write a hand-written letter to an older family member.
5. Give up a great parking spot to the person behind you.
6. Send a silly e-card to a friend and let him know you are thinking of them.
7. Give another parent a break. Offer to babysit while they catch up on sleep or shopping.
8. If you have to run out to the store on a cold or rainy day, be sure to ask your neighbor if they need something.
9. Share a word of encouragement with a parent who has her hands full.
10. Pull a shy partygoer into the conversation by asking her about herself.

Help others

11. Leave a magazine or used book at the dentist office, coffee shop or auto repair waiting room.

12. Give of yourself. Sign up to be an organ, bone marrow or blood donor.
13. Offer your seat to someone who needs it more on the bus, train or waiting area.
14. If a store or restaurant employee has been kind or helpful, be sure to tell his boss.
15. If you follow a blog, leave a comment and let the blogger know why you enjoy their blog.

Simple Enough for a Child

16. Offer to rake leaves for a neighbor.
17. Collect stray carts outside the grocery store and put them back in the corrals.
18. Send a note of appreciation to a coach, teacher or neighbor.
19. Do a chore without being asked.
20. If you see something out of place at the store, put it back where it goes.
21. Smile and say good morning to everyone you see.
22. When you receive prize tickets from arcade games, give them to someone else so they can get a bigger prize.
23. Give a refreshing bottle of water to the mail carrier.
24.  Bring in a neighbor’s garbage cans on a cold day.

Do Something as a Family

25. Hand out bags of popcorn to people in line at Redbox.
26. Play board games with residents at the nursing home. Bring a plate of cookies with you.
27. Collect old towels and blankets for the animal shelter
28. Help someone load groceries into their car and take their cart back to the corral.

29. Tape coins to the gum ball machines.
30. Make twice as much dinner as your family needs and give it to a neighbor – just because.
31. Attach coupons to items in the grocery store.

Share the Wealth

32. Leave a generous tip for a small bill. Most of us have worked for tips at one time in our lives.
33. Buy hot cocoa for the Salvation Army bell ringers.
34. Hand out $5 gift cards at the gas station, donut shop or fast food restaurant.
35. Tape coins to the machines at the laundry or hand out boxes of detergent.
36. Place dollar bills on items at the dollar store – the toy aisle might be the best place.
37. Purchase a buy-one, get-one item and share it with a friend.
38. Pay for the order of the person behind you in the drive up window.
39. Buy lunch for the people working at your house. Pizza goes a long way when there is more than one.
40. If you have an extra ticket, give it to someone who is waiting in line.