Today, as you may or may not know, is Random Acts of Kindness Day. I was not aware of this holiday myself, but I am now very happy that I do. 

The Genesis 

The idea of this holiday started in 1995, when a small, passionate, and randomly kind set of people in the US made it their mission to dedicate one day to doing something kind for others. Since then, the day has evolved into something much more popular, and now people all over the world participate in a variety of random acts of kindness on February 17th each year.

One of the best things about this day is that it doesn't have to be something overly gratuitous or expensive, but just a simple gesture can reach miles in brightening someone's day.

Some Random Acts of Kindness For Today and This Weekend

In my excitement over having just recently been made aware of this jovial holiday, I've compiled a list of something that, had they been done to me, a smile would remain cemented across my face for the rest of the day, if not for several.

• Say hello, or strike up a conversation with a stranger, especially if they're older than you! You'd be surprised by not just how much this would make someone else's day, but the positive impact it can have on your own. 
• Hold the door open for the person behind you. It's so simple, and it's so nice when someone does it! (unless the person is way behind you, and you holding the door open for them forces them to SPRINT ahead just so your act doesn't go unnoticed...then it's just annoying for everyone involved.)
• Give someone a compliment. 9/10 times, this will never go unnoticed.
• Offer to help someone carry their groceries. If you see someone struggling to wield 10 bags out from Tesco, if you just asked if they need some help, who wouldn't appreciate that?
• Leave a positive review for a small business. In the day and age when reviews and online presence can make or break someone, leaving a kind review for a small business can make all the difference in the world, and can be the deciding factor of the next person scrolling through Google, looking for said industry. 
• Donate some clothes. Out of that monstrous stack of T-shirts in your closet, how many do you actually wear? Exactly. Let someone else in need take it off your hands!
• GIVE YOUR PARENTS A CALL. Don't TEXT. CALL them. Especially if you live aboard. Sending a meme or a WhatsApp just isn't the same. Call your parents. Or a friend. Ask them about their day. It'll mean more than you know.

Although these are just a few ideas, the possibilities are limitless, and there is no shortage of big or small, nonetheless free, acts of kindness you can perform on any given day. It doesn't just need to be today, but it's a good starting off point!

Random Acts of Kindness Day is also an excellent opportunity for businesses of any size to get involved and show some love for their customers or the world around. Some companies offer discounts or donate portions of their profits to charities on this magnanimous day, and many schools and community organisations also exercise and added awareness to be, more than anything, kind to each other.

If you are a business, here are some ideas how you and your team can participate is well.

If you don't get up to much this weekend, if you make at least one person smile, then you'll have participated in what is a growing domino effect around the world.

And for those of you who like Drum N Bass, here's one of my favourite songs from an album adequately titled for this occasion.