We're Making This The Year Of Kindness

Last year several of us did a Secret Pal thing here at work. When I asked Johnnie what she thought we could do for this year, she said, "Why not do 'Random Acts of Kindness'?" I thought that sounded like a really good thing.
Do you know there is The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation and there is a Kindness Movement? They give a wealth of ideas to help encourage and promote Random Acts of Kindness (RAK), not only in your workplace, but in your entire life!
In an earlier blog, I told you about asking our staff members what New Year's Resolutions they had. The one thing that stood out about their answers was that so many of them said "to be a better me." So, what way "to be a better me" than to do Random Acts of Kindness throughout the year?
After running the kindness idea past our director, who thought it was a good idea, I gave each staff member a letter explaining how we could do a RAK program.
There would be a calendar suggesting Random Acts of Kindness posted each month on the break-room bulletin board. They could pick one of the suggestions on the calendar or come up with an idea of their own. They could do a Random Act of Kindess every day or once a week or once a month.
They would also find on the breakroom table a "Kindness Box." When they did an act of kindness, they were encouraged to write on a piece of paper what they did and place the paper in the Kindness Box. They were also encouraged not to sign the paper and remain anonymous. But if they wanted to be known...well, that was up to them.
At the end of the month, the box would be emptied and all the acts of kindness would be listed on a Random Acts of Kindness Report that would be posted on the bulletin board. That way we could watch the list grow throughout the year.
They were also encouraged, if they were the recipient of an act of kindness, to write that on a slip of paper and put it in the Kindness Box. Those kindnesses would be put on the report also.
Each staff member was given a bookmark with 10 ideas of kindness listed to help "kick-start" their acts. These are easy things to do that would be meaningful to their friends and coworkers.
So, here are about twenty people at the Moultrie-Colquitt County Library in Moultrie, Georgia, who will be trying to make a difference in the world by doing Random Acts of Kindness. We hope it will spread from coworker to coworker, then to family and friends, and then into our community.
Maybe you'll see someone drive up at an intersection, who arrived at the same time you did, but with a friendly wave indicates you can go first. Maybe you'll see a mother carrying one child and pulling two along behind her, who just needs a kindly hand to open a door or two for her. Or maybe there will be that friend who needs a big hug to make their day better.
You'll find your Random Acts of Kindness, just like we will. Why not make a note in a journal of your kindly acts? Why not join us and make this The Year of Kindness?
Check out http://www.actsofkindness.org/ and keep us posted on how your year is going.