Going into this journal, I was kind of skeptical as to how easy it would be to find random acts of kindness within everyday life. To my delight, I was proven wrong; once I started truly looking for them, they became very apparent. It was a little tough discerning which acts of kindness were random as opposed to premeditated acts of kindness, but I think I was able to pull together a pretty decent list. They are in no particular order, and cover a fair amount of ground. Some of them are ones I observed, while others are ones that I found myself doing.
1. Bringing up books in class
2. Sharing snacks with someone who does not have
3. Asking "how are you?" to someone you don't usually
4. Listening earnestly
5. Making eye contact
6. Giving someone a hug
7. Smiling at random students passing in the hall
8. Laughing at something someone said
9. Getting colored pencils for the group
10. Putting away colored pencils for the group
11. Complimenting someone on their outfit
12. Making someone else smile unintentionally
13. Holding a door open
14. Letting someone take their food before them
15. Making a complete stranger feel welcome
16. Staying back to clean up the table at lunch
17. Recycling a recyclable thrown out in the trash
18. Telling someone that you appreciate them, and meaning it
19. Following up on an issue that you've been having
20. Spontaneous humor
21. Leaving someone a thoughtful gift without warning
22. Giving someone a Love Class (Hershey's) Kiss
23. Giving a day-off from homework
24. Giving advice to someone who you don't really know
25. Doing your own thing
26. Giving up your seat on the T
27. Cooking dinner when you usually don't
However, I observed some anti-RAKs, too... They made me :( Understandably, since these are random, people didn't exactly realize that they were being rude and unkind. Like me, though, if they started looking for them, they might change how they act, and being kind would become second nature.
1. Ignoring someone
2. Talking over someone's ideas
3. Walking through the hall with either their head down or with a grimace/snarl
4. Losing their verbal filter
5. Frowning for no reason
6. Killing a moment unintentionally
7. Butting into a good conversation
8. Not saying hello or goodbye
This RAK observation was magical. I think my previous assertions that humans are naturally bad are changing. The things that really struck me were the things that people did for others that they didn't know. To sacrifice something for an unknown takes a lot and says a lot. I hope that I can one day be as kind as I am to people I don't know as to those I do.
Until next time,
Joho
