5 Ideas to Inspire Acts of Kindness

It can be as simple as paying for someone’s cup of coffee, or offering a genuine compliment. The unexpected generosity stays with that perfect stranger and hopefully inspires more kindness in return. We’re celebrating all acts of kindness this season with our Thrill ‘Em with Kindness campaign. When you do something unexpected and nice for your mom, your friend, a coworker, or a complete stranger, we want to hear about it.
If you want to participate but aren’t sure where to start, here are five ideas to help you inspire acts of kindness.

1. Thank Someone for Coming to Work

There are already people who make our lives simpler or safer just by coming to work each day. From mail carriers to school crossing guards, some folks are working in the heat of the summer and the chilliest days of the winter. Indoors, employees are working late nights and extra hours so you can finish your holiday shopping. Pay it forward and thank them sincerely, or go above and beyond and offer them a cup of coffee or a cold iced tea.

2. Deliver Classic Acts of Kindness

There’s a reason why “just because” flowers rarely fail. Think of someone in your life who works hard and send them a smile. From Edible Arrangements to a fresh bouquet, having a surprise delivery show up at work or home will leave them beaming. If flowers aren’t your thing, write a thoughtful note (who doesn’t love a secret admirer?) or add a friendly touch of mystery to their day by building a snowman in their front yard or dropping a small gift on their desk.

3. Help with Holiday Shopping

For many families, the holiday season is more financially stressful than jolly. Surprise someone with kindness by paying a layaway bill, or purchasing a gift card at a toy store and handing it to someone you see browsing the aisles. If you’re better able to spare time instead of cash, offer to make a run to the post office or the grocery store, address holiday cards, or even take some of the gift-wrapping off of a busy friend’s hands.

4. Pick Up the Tab

Permission to people watch: granted. When dining out, pay attention to the other patrons sharing the space with you. Is someone eating alone? Are there any stressed parents trying to convince their kid to finish their meal? Maybe you notice two people enjoying each other’s company instead of staring at their phones. Getting the attention of the waiter and offering to buy someone’s meal or send them dessert is a thoughtful way to inspire kindness.

5. Give a Generous Tip

Everyone should be required to work in the retail or food service industry at least once. That way, we’d all understand and appreciate what it takes to serve people. When you have a genuinely good experience with a waitress or cashier, do something to make them smile. It could be as simple as adding a nice note to your bill, a high five, leaving a generous tip, or handing them that NEIRA gift card that you kept handy to pay-it-forward with!

We want to hear how you carried out acts of kindness, or received an act of kindness, this season. Share your story on social media — tag photos and videos with #kindnewengland — to enter to win more kindness, in the form of a gift card, for the person you treated in our Thrill ‘Em with Kindness campaign.