So simple it’s silly not to…hold the door open for someone behind you. Extra halo points if you do it at a cafe knowing it means you’ll find yourself waiting behind them in line. Who knows? Maybe they’ll treat you to a coffee. It’s happened, I swear.
Admit it. You’ve done the oh-sorry-I-was-accidentally-pushing-the-close-button in the elevator then giggled to yourself as another person misses the elevator. It’s get-back for when someone else has done it to you. Oh, is that just me? Liar. In any case, be kind and hold the elevator next time. I promise I’ll do the same for you.
Anyone who’s spent a good deal of time at the hospital worrying about a loved one knows it’s not the most comfortable place to be. You’re already worried about someone you care about, it’s cold, it always smells like medicine, and the coughy-cougherson sitting next to you never learned to Dracula his coughs. Bring a little sunshine to someone else and tape some money at the hospital vending machines to treat someone to a coffee or a quick snack. Bonus halo points? Bring some coffee over for the entire waiting room. Look at you, you mindful, kind person you!
I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream! I don’t trust anyone who doesn’t like ice cream as a general rule and it’s served me well. Yes, even people who are lactose intolerant wish they could have ice cream, they just can’t. So they’re alright by me. Surprise your child’s classroom with an ice cream party. Make it a sundae buffet–hey, that rhymed–so the kids can have some fun making their own sundaes. Yes, it will make it messy and gooey and just generally chaotic but that’s part of the fun. You’ll soon have a mob of little ones grinning ear-to-ear. Try to find some lactose free options for the little ones whose little tummies can’t take the milk. There really are some nice soy and almond milk options these days. Sorbets are good too. If you really want to go the extra mile, pick up a Yonanas:
You’ll marvel at how much they really do taste and feel like frozen yogurt. Try frozen berries in addition to the bananas. You’re welcome.
Don’t have kids yourself? Partner up with your local fire station as in addition to their brave work, firefighters do a lot of charity work with kids. Where do you think all that calendar money goes?
No one likes seeing their neighborhood or favorite hangout spots littered with trash. Next time you’re out and about, pick up just one piece of trash and deposit it in a waste can. I’ve found this becomes quite addicting. Whenever I’m out and about and see a bit of trash on the ground I’ll pick it up and throw it away. If it happens at my favorite cafe the staff always appreciate that one of their regulars helps them out. And they don’t give me dirty looks so much when I monopolize one of their tables writing up mindful acts of kindness like this.