29 Ways to Carry Out Random Acts of Kindness Every Day

 29 Ways to Carry Out Random¹ Acts of Kindness Every Day

The time has come when we cannot just rely on others to make the world a better place – each one of us has to do our bit.

It is therefore time for people to be more and more aware about their Personal Social Responsibility (PSR).

PSR is all about doing to others what you would like others do to you. It is about recognizing how your behaviour affects others, and holding yourself accountable for your actions. For example, contrast someone being well mannered and kind, with someone being rude.

And this brings me nicely to the theme of this post - being kind to others.

Kindness is contagious² - and as part of Personal Socially Responsibility you might want to consider carrying out random acts of kindness on a daily basis.

It is truly a win/win/win situation. The person you are being kind to benefits through your help. You feel good for having helped someone. And the world is a better place through your kindness.

Never underestimate³ the impact⁴ of a single act of kindness. I still remember, after many years, the time someone stopped and helped me after my car had broken down down. Since then, I have stopped on the road myself and helped stranded⁵ motorists a number of times. All because of that single act of kindness by a stranger.

Also, it is important to carry out your acts of kindness without expecting anything back.

So where do you begin?

To get you started, I have listed 29 ideas below. And why the number 29? Because it is as good a number as any - and also because I couldn’t think of idea number 30!

Put them into practice and also create your own:-

Send someone a hand written note of thanks.

Make a card at home and send it to a friend for no reason.

Buy a lottery⁶ ticket for a stranger.

Put some coins in someone else’s parking meter.

Buy a coffee for the man on the high street selling The Big Issue magazine.

Cut your neighbour’s hedge⁷.

Walk your friend’s dog.

Give a compliment⁸ about your waiter / waitress to his / her manager.

Send someone a small gift anonymously⁹.

Stop and help someone replace their flat tyre.

Let someone jump the queue at the bank.

Pay for the drinks on the next table at a café.

Treat a friend to the movies for no reason.

Give a huge tip to someone when they least expect it.

Hold the train door open for someone rushing to get in.

Give up your seat for someone, not just an elderly person.

Write notes of appreciation¹⁰ at least once a week.

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Talk to a homeless person and have a “normal” conversation.

Pick up some rubbish in the road which would otherwise be lying around.

Compliment a work colleague for their excellence¹¹.

Recommend a competitor to a potential client¹².

Give another driver your parking spot.

Give a piece of fruit to a delivery¹³ person.

Help an elderly neighbour carry the rubbish out.

Tell all your family members how much your appreciate them.

Leave a copy of an interesting book on a train / bus.

Buy an inspirational book for a friend.

Send a thank you note to a person who has helped you in the past.

Smile a lot.

What goes around is sure to come around - happy helping 

Please apply these ideas in your life from today - and share your own ideas and how you get on with spreading kindness in the world in the comments. That way I won’t have to think up idea number 30 myself!

1 random   

adj.随机的；任意的；n.偶然的(或随便的)行动

参考例句：

• The list is arranged in a random order.名单排列不分先后。
• On random inspection the meat was found to be bad.经抽查，发现肉变质了。

2 contagious   

adj.传染性的，有感染力的

参考例句：

• It's a highly contagious infection.这种病极易传染。
• He's got a contagious laugh.他的笑富有感染力。

3 underestimate   

vt.对...估价过低，低估

参考例句：

• Don't underestimate the role of theory.不要轻视理论的作用。
• I think a lot of people still underestimate him.我觉得很多人仍然低估了他。

4 impact   

n.冲击，碰撞；影响；vt.装紧，压紧

参考例句：

• The computer had made a great impact on modern life.计算机对现代生活产生了巨大的影响.
• How will the war impact on such a poet?战争对这样一个诗人会产生什么影响？

5 stranded   

a.搁浅的，进退两难的

参考例句：

• He was stranded in a strange city without money. 他流落在一个陌生的城市里， 身无分文，一筹莫展。
• I was stranded in the strange town without money or friends. 我困在那陌生的城市，既没有钱，又没有朋友。

6 lottery   

n.抽彩；碰运气的事，难于算计的事

参考例句：

• He won no less than ￡5000 in the lottery.他居然中了5000英镑的奖券。
• They thought themselves lucky in the lottery of life.他们认为自己是变幻莫测的人生中的幸运者。

7 hedge   

n.树篱；障碍物；vt.用篱笆围；vi.避免直接回答

参考例句：

• The gardener trimmed the hedge.那位园林工人修剪了树篱。
• He squeezed through a gap in the hedge.他从树篱的缺口处挤过去。

8 compliment   

n.[pl.]问候，致意；n./v. 称赞，恭维

参考例句：

• The manager paid her a compliment on her work.经理赞扬了她的工作。
• Your presence is a great compliment.承蒙光临，不胜荣幸。

9 anonymously   

ad.用匿名的方式

参考例句：

• The manuscripts were submitted anonymously. 原稿是匿名送交的。
• Methods A self-administered questionnaire was used to survey 536 teachers anonymously. 方法采用自编“中小学教师职业压力问卷”对536名中小学教师进行无记名调查。

10 appreciation   

n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨

参考例句：

• I would like to express my appreciation and thanks to you all.我想对你们所有人表达我的感激和谢意。
• I'll be sending them a donation in appreciation of their help.我将送给他们一笔捐款以感谢他们的帮助。

11 excellence   

n.优秀，杰出，(pl.)优点，美德

参考例句：

• His art has reached a high degree of excellence.他的艺术已达到炉火纯青的地步。
• My performance is far below excellence.我的表演离优秀还差得远呢。

12 client   

n.委托人，当事人，顾客

参考例句：

• She can't come to the telephone;she's serving a client.她不能来接电话，她正在接待一位顾客。
• The lawyer produced a clever defence of his client.律师机智地为委托人辩护。

13 delivery   

n.交付；投递；分娩；解救者；演讲的风格

参考例句：

• The strike caused a great delay in the delivery of the mail.这次罢工严重地延误了邮件的投递。
• He was employed at the local grocery store as a delivery boy.他受雇于当地杂货店当送货员。