45 Random Acts of Aloha

Its been 5 years since my last Random Acts of Aloha venture---and here I am 45 and have tweeked it a bit. It has been an intense 5 years and I have learned a lot and I feel more inspired to address behavior in this set:) Nothing makes me happier than making others happy. I am hoping this 2nd go round can inspire just as many, if not more, than it did 5 years ago. It is a super long list---but please read to the end.:) I will also be blogging as I go through this, as I did the last time. I am aiming to complete the list by October 31st:) Please feel free to comment and share the goodness you feel and bring to others as you feel inspired to complete some of these acts or make new ones for yourself. 

All of my aloha, 

Michelle

1. Do everyone’s family house chores for one day

2. Make a meal for a neighbor

3. Bring in carts at Fry’s 

4. Pay for someone’s order behind me in a drive thru

5. Listen when no else wants to

6. Write thank you notes and deliver with a treat for those who have served you

7. Do an act of service for someone who has wronged you

8. Take a birthday treat to someone who shares your birthday

9. Come to the rescue of someone in need

10. Don’t leave others waiting for you (Be on time)

11. Smile and say hi to 45 strangers

12. Give a generous tip

13. Be understanding – Assume the best in others. If someone is running late or has called in sick don’t assume they’re trying to get out of something.

14. Send a surprise book to someone from an online retailer

15. Write a letter to your mother thanking her for all that she has done for you.

16. Put 45 paper hearts or smiley faces in a box. On each cutout write something that is special about your lover or a good friend. Give them the box and tell them to pull out a heart or smiley face anytime they get lonely or want a pick me up

17. Find opportunities to give compliments. It costs nothing, takes no time, and could make someone’s entire day. Don’t just think it. Say it.

18. Sign up to get 30 free “You Matter” cards. Give them out to people who make a difference in your life. From the cheery barista who gets your day started right to the family member who asks how you’re doing and then listens to what you have to say. Go to  youmattermarathon.com You can read about the woman who got the movement started, which has led to close to half a million cards given out globally.

19. Make a thank you basket for a teacher with supplies for the room and a treat for the teacher!

20. Cook an extra portion of dinner (or dessert) for someone who needs it.

21. Take a treat to a nursing station at a hospital

22. Send cards to lonely seniors. 13-year-old Jacob Cramer started Love for the Elderly, which distributes letters to American seniors via senior centers and nonprofit organizations. This page explains how you can send a postal letter. Letters have come in from all over including Cleveland, Asia and Scotland.

23. Write letters to strangers who need them. More Love Letters has a list of people who could benefit from letters of encouragement. Each person has been added to the web site by a friend or family member. Read the stories and take five minutes to make someone’s day.

24. Bear one another’s burdens- Sometimes we shy away from people when we know they’re having a rough time. We assume we should wait for them to approach us, so we’re not intruding. Instead, ask them how they’re doing. If they don’t want to talk, they’ll say they’re “fine.” Many people will be relieved to have someone to talk to. If you don’t ask, they might never mention anything to you. They might not want to burden you with their problems.

25. Be sure to also share in a work setting. When you get great service tell the person who helped you. Then, tell a manager. Go to the corporate web site and submit an email.

26. Hold the elevator.

27. Stop at a kid’s lemonade stand and buy a drink.

28. Write a love note and hide it in a magazine your partner is reading or somewhere else he/she will find it.

29. Carry around a $5 gift card so you can give it to someone who does something awesome. Or, create and carry “thanks for making my day” cards that you can give to people.

30. Put your phone away for 45 conversations

31. Send dessert to another table when out to dinner

32. Make someone you love a playlist

33. Wash someone’s car

34. Take the time to write a great online review for a restaurant or store you love.

35. Write a sweet, encouraging note and put it in your child’s lunch box or under their pillow.

36. Hand out 45 drink cups at the local QuikTrip or gas station of your choice.

37. Let someone cut in front of you in line

38. Ding Dong Ditch someone with a box of Ding Dongs😊

39. Take a dozen donuts to your fave dentist, orthodontist or doctor

40. Leave the exact change for a soda in the change slot of a vending machine.

41. Send someone who’s feeling down a box of sunshine: fill it with yellow things. This can be yellow candy, lemon cake mix, a yellow mug with a smiley face on it, smiley face stickers, yellow slippers, a great book wrapped in yellow, and so on.

42. Send a friend an old photo of the two of you together and include a note recalling that time.

43. Conduct an Animal Shelter Food drive

44. Leave treats on the RedBox for someone to have a fun movie night😊

45. Don’t forget yourself! Schedule a pedicure or massage, spend a few hours reading a great book or make time for another activity you love. Being kind to yourself will give you the energy and strength to be kind to others!

A FEW NOTES:

• Don’t overthink your random act of kindness! Even the simplest things can make a difference.
• If you’re introverted and intimidated with talking to a stranger, you can always spread kindness to a someone you know. Eventually, it will get further from you and before you know it, the kindness will spread to strangers.
• The airport is a great place to do a random act of kindness. It’s already a place that causes stress and a where we’re caught up in getting from one place to another, so think about the impact it can make by bringing a smile to someone’s face.