Random Acts of Kindness: Changing the Lives of Others

It's that time again. Another year has passed and we find ourselves looking forward to another new year. With the new year comes hopes for change, a new year to mend our broken past, and change our lives for the better. It is a chance to start all over and make the necessary changes that we failed to make in years past.

But what about making resolutions that can actually benefit the lives of others by doing them all year long? Instead of making some narcissistic resolution that you probably won't keep, why not try something that would actually help other people. The most rewarding things in life are often the selfless acts that a person does for the benefit of others. This year, my resolutions have changed. I have a few resolutions that will still change my own life, but I am looking for the bigger picture now. In 2008 I want to see a change in the world, no matter how minuscule...I just want to positively affect the lives of others.

Just the other day, I found myself at the counter in the local Starbucks ordering a venti fresh brewed coffee. In my hand I held a giftcard, a Christmas gift already put to good use. As I was standing there, something came over me. I can't quite explain what it was other than a feeling of good will towards men. My coffee cost about $2.00 and after my purchase I had about $3.50 left on my giftcard. I asked the young lady behind the counter to please give my giftcard to the next person that walked through the door and it felt really good. I know that $3.50 isn't a lot of money, but I am not a millionaire and this was just a small way to contribute to the next person who happened to be a complete stranger. I know that with that one simple random act of kindness, that I might have made someone's day or simply put a smile on their face. The most rewarding part is knowing that the person that I gave the giftcard to, will never even be able to thank me. The only thing they can do...is to do a random act of kindness for someone else.

Unfortunately, our opinions of other people are changing. We see a world full of people who are fast paced, selfish, egotistical, and self-centered. People rarely stop to take a moment to even say hello to a complete stranger, or wave to a passerby. In fact most of the time people are too busy to even notice when you do something nice for them. The world is growing fuller with people who are only concerned with their own well being and the betterment of their situation. I think it's time to make a change in the world and the best way to see change is to start doing selfless acts for others. A funny thing happens when you do something nice for someone that you don't know...they remember it. Whether it is taking someone's cart back for them in the grocery store parking lot, or allowing someone to cut in front of you in line, or buying a cup of coffee for the person standing behind you in line at a coffee shop. The biggest impact you can make in someone's life, can often be started by throwing a small pebble into a big pond.

My New Year's Resolution this year is to not set a New Year's Resolution, it is to do as many random acts of kindness as possible throughout the entire year and to spread the word in my community and get others involved. If you want to get involved in doing random acts of kindness for people, there is an actual foundation that supports this idea. This foundation is rightly called The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation. It's mission is: The Random Acts of Kindness™ Foundation inspires people to practice kindness and to "pass it on" to others. We provide free educational and community ideas, guidance, and other resources to kindness participants through our website at www.actsofkindness.org. If you want to get some simple ideas that can impact the lives of others, check out the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation Website. The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation focuses on a broad spectrum of ideas that can positively affect the lives of others.

There is no time like the present to make a positive in the world. When you change the lives of others, you can't help but change your own life. Make your New Year's Resolution count this year and do a random act of kindness for a complete stranger.