Random Acts of Kindness

It seemed common to regularly hear about practicing random acts of kindness a number of years ago, around the time this book was published in the early 1990's. Over the past decade, it seemed to me it was just another one of those things that you knew about, but it wasn't demanding attention on the public radar.

When I started to look into it again recently, I was very pleased to find that although it may have not been forefront on my radar, it is a vibrant and continually growing practice among many groups and communities today.

The growth and acknowledgment of the movement is thanks to people like those at Conari Press that published this inspiring book all those years ago. The inspiration it fostered has helped to give rise to numerous kindness initiatives all over the world.

• Random Acts of Kindness Foundation
• Random Acts of Kindness week
• Acts of Random Kindness (ARK)
• Countless individual acts of random kindness by readers of the book

In reading this engaging book it's easy to see that it's one of those personal development books that moves people to get involved. The beautiful consequence in this case is that you end up helping your own self growth while also making the world a kinder place.

The overall uplifting message instills positive feelings, and a 'you can do it' attitude. There are lot's of simple acts of kindness ideas throughout it, and it inspires people to give it a go.

And there is always the twofold reward to look forward to:

1. You feel this lightness and joy at stepping beyond yourself for a moment and 'being there' for another
2. You get a great feeling of being the best version of yourself when the recipient of unexpected kindness is overwhelmed with your helping gesture

This book was really an important stone tossed into the pond... creating kindness ripples that continue out into the world. Many good works were in those initial ripples, and they continue to spread out to touch more lives as the years go by.

Catch one of those ripples and starting creating your own effect. It's fun and simple to implement acts of random kindness in the world. Why not aim to do one today, and see how it makes you feel. Chances are you will feel the resulting enrichment in your life, and you'll be looking for your next opportunity. You might get in the groove of paying it forward once a week or even every day.

We look forward to hearing about it. Come back and share your resulting inspirational stories!

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