One thing I’ve learned in my 29 years (late 20’s are such a wise age, no?) is that I like being around positive people. I think it’s important to surround yourself with people you respect, admire and would like to emulate. I strive to be optimistic, kind and giving. With a side of sarcasm for good measure. Do I fall short? Of course. But these ideals are important to me and I strive for them daily.
I also want to surround myself with people that share my ideals. People that encourage, people who are positive, that discuss ideas and not other people, that support each other in their endeavors and that are dependable. Above all, I want to surround myself with people that are kind.
I believe it’s not only important to surround myself with positive energy, but to put it out there myself. I realize it sounds all hippie-like, but random acts of kindness are a great way to spread love and positivity. Plus, whatever joy you bring to others, you receive back tenfold in warm and fuzzies. Just ask Phoebe who even felt good after letting the bee sting her. (Any Friends fans out there??)
This weekend I challenge you (and myself) to do one random act of kindness. Pay for the person’s coffee behind you in line, send a thank you note to someone who has made a difference in your world, smile at a stranger, let a car out in front of you, drop cookies off at a neighbor’s house, leave change in a vending machine, give a genuine compliment, you get the idea.
I obviously didn’t create the concept of a random act of kindness, but I can attest to its powerful effects, having experienced both the giving and receiving sides recently.
So let’s send a whole lot of love-vibes into the universe this weekend!
Who’s in?
And do you have any good ideas for random acts of kindness?
The only fitting way to end this post… Kumbaya.
Parita @ myinnershakti says
GREAT idea. I also believe in the power of positivity and kindness so this really resonates with me.
Another idea to add to the list…let someone ahead of you in line at the grocery store. 🙂
Lindsay @ The Lean Green Bean says
check out the #elf4health hashtag on twitter from yesterday. random act of kindness was our challenge yesterday and there were so many good ideas! people did some amazing things!
Brittany says
What?!? How did I miss that?! Going to check it out now. Thanks Lindsay! 🙂
Anna says
Great post! Thanks for the positive message this morning! : )
Ashley says
I love this concept. Ironically, my Facebook feed has three comments about random acts of kindness in the last hour. Friends paying for people’s breakfasts, people having their coffee paid for, etc. Based on their comments it is so impactful for both the giver and the receiver!
Brittany says
I feel like I’ve seen it on facebook a lot recently, too. It’s what actually made me think of it! Love how many people are involved in paying it forward.
Kaitlyn @Keeping up with Kaitlyn says
Great idea!! Definitely going to try to do something!
Lauren K says
Love this post and the idea. Your second paragraph sums up everything perfectly! Life is too short to not love what you do and love who you are surrounded by. Those closest to you should encourage you and be able to provide honest feedback without bringing you down! Thank you for the uplifting thoughts on a Friday morning.
Lisa says
I actually try and do this at least once a week! It always makes me feel good. I go to starbucks once a day (I’m a coffee addict) and I try and by coffee for the person behind me at least once a week. It feels nice to do this and if I don’t do that, I try and donate to a food bank when I have leftover cans of food that I know I won’t use. Great reminder for us all!
Brittany says
That’s wonderful that you do this once a week! I, like many others, think of it mostly during the holiday season, but I’d love to be more dedicated to doing it year round. What a great example you are!
Maria says
You know, I was thinking about blogging about something similar. I have learned (the hard way, like always) that positivity breeds positivity. The people you are around, really do have a major effect on your happiness so its important to surround yourself with people that lift you up instead of bring you down. I couldn’t get all my thoughts out quite as eloquently as yours, but yes, I 100% agree with this. I’ve stopped following people on Twitter who did nothing but upset me or annoy me and same with Facebook – I don’t use it anymore. And because of these small changes, I’ve felt like a whole new person. It sounds dramatic, but true.
Anyways, sorry for the book and just wanted to let you know that you are one of those people that lift me up and thank you for that! Yes, sounds cheesy, but it’s true!
Brittany says
I always love reading your input! I appreciate you saying I wrote it eloquently, but I feel like I fumbled through what I wanted to say. I wasn’t quite sure the point I was getting at, but like you, I’ve really noticed how much I am influenced by what and who I decide to have around me. I deleted some parts of the post because I realized I ran a risk of being a huge cheeseball, but I’ve been really introspective lately and examining what I want to give and get out of life. I realized I don’t have time to waste on negativity and I want to focus on things that lift me up and make me better.
PS- when can we meet in real life? 🙂
Maria says
Blend 2013? I’m 90% sure that I’ll be there!
lindsay @ fuelmyfamily says
i got a coffee from dunkin donuts yesterday and when i went to the window to pay she told me the car in front of me already paid for my coffee. A complete stranger and a random act of kindness. It really did make my day and it was such a simple thing and only cost them $1.77. It definitely made me want to pay it forward!
Dukebdc says
Can I ask a dumb question, which shows that I’ve obviously never done it before? HOW do you pay for the coffee/meal of the person behind you in line? How do you know how much to give the cashier? Or do you hover while the next person orders? What if the person behind you is ordering a large number of items (I see this a lot at the coffee place I go to)? Just curious about the logistics, not questioning the act of kindness. 🙂
Brittany says
Haha, I understand! It works if you’re in a drive through line (like McDonalds) where the person behind you has already placed their order. Otherwise I’m sure you could leave an extra $5 or $10 with the person, which would probably cover a coffee cost, unless like you said, they’re ordering a lot. Then, maybe they would just pass it along to the next person 🙂
Dukebdc says
Thanks. I can’t remember the last time i went to a drive-through, so that didn’t occur to me. I guess I could hover in line at the counter or find other ways to give back. 🙂
Susan says
I work in a retail pharmacy. After a customer told me he would pick up his second medication in a few days because he didn’t have enough money, a person in line behind him paid for that $7.00 prescription (after he’d left) with a 20 dollar bill and left the change for him. I was there several days later when the customer picked up his Rx, already paid. Needless, to say he was almost in tears and kept saying he wished he knew who’d been so kind. He left, but in a few minutes he was back! He wanted me to take the change she’d left for him and “pay it forward” to someone else. We, as a staff, are still working on using that money for people who need it. I’ve been trying to do little kindnesses even more since this happened!
Brittany says
Susan, I read this story out loud to David because it gave me such happy chills. With all the terrible things that go on out there, it is heartwarming to hear the stories of love that exist! Thank you for sharing.
Sarah@Kids Heart Real Food says
Great idea! You would also like this as well – it’s a daily advent calendar where you get an email with a Random Act of Kindness everyday:
http://www.noomii.com/advent-calendar-2012/
I’ve been doing it and it’s been fun, and a nice way to be a little kinder over the holidays.
Brittany says
That’s a great idea!!
Kristen @ notsodomesticated says
Great suggestion, girl. I also try to remind myself that I can also be doing random acts of kindness for those I love, like my husband … it doesn’t just have to be for strangers. Sometimes I think we can all be guilty of treating strangers better than those we love! 🙂
Brittany says
Kristen, you are so right. It’s important to not forget those we love the most. Last week I stuck a bag of beef jerky and a I love you note it David’s car. I just liked to picture his face when he found it. Made me so happy! 🙂
Giselle@myhealthyhappyhome says
I love Random Acts of Kindness! I tried to do one the other day by purchasing a hot chocolate for the Salvation Army bell ringer in front of the grocery store. However, when we came out to give it to her, she was gone 🙁 Today we are going to donate clothes and new toys to a few different charities in our area 🙂
By the way, I nominated you for the Liebster Award today! Have a great weekend!
Angela says
The other day I was at work and I was at the drive-thru. A car came through and asked to pay for the car behind it, it was the nicest thing! Another day 2 men came in and didn’t have enough money to pay for what they wanted so they settled for something less. A couple nearby overheard and bought the men what they originally ordered plus more! I love to see that kind of act being done and hope to pass it along to others!