For the list of ALL 365 Acts of Kindness, please scroll down…
Kindness Project FAQ’s:
- What are the goals of the #365ActsofKindness project?
- To complete 365 random and not-so-random acts of kindness throughout the year
- To help make people feel less alone
- To bring awareness to suicide prevention, a cause that is of utmost importance to me, my family and many, many others
- What are some examples of Acts of Kindness?
- Smile at a stranger
- Holding the door for someone
- Writing a note and putting it in my children’s lunchbox
- Giving someone a compliment
- Paying for a person’s coffee at Starbucks
- Recycling, Reusing, Repurposing
- Thanking our kids’ teachers
- Donating to a favorite cause
- There are so many more – many of which do not cost a cent!
- Why post about this?
Many people do nice things every day, multiple times a day and don’t ever feel like they need to announce it. This is true for me too! However, the kindness communities to which I belong, emphasize the importance of sharing this information as these acts inspire others to take action. Also, it’s easy to forget sometimes that there is so much goodness in the world…who doesn’t like to see a little good news every once in a while? - Where will the completed Acts of Kindness be posted?
In an effort to spread the kindness and not overwhelm one social media platform (or your newsfeed), I will post updates on Facebook (either my page or the NoochieRAKs community page), Twitter and occasionally update this blog site. I will also try to organize the information by using the hashtags: #365ActsofKindness and/or #NoochieRAKs - How often will the Acts of Kindness be posted?
I really have no idea how often I’ll be able to complete these Acts of Kindness. There may be days when I accomplish one-two a day, but may be there days when I don’t have any acts of kindness. Another reason that I think posting about this will keep me honest and motivated. - Where did you get the idea for the #365ActsofKindness Project?
There are many similar projects taking place all over the world that have inspired me. However, I was the lucky recipient of an Act of Kindness (#353, I think) from Rachelle Jervis, AFSP Regional Director. Following her 365 Acts journey and then receiving her act of kindness were huge gifts that arrived at just the right time. Lastly, I am inspired by MANY (you know who you are!) friends and family who have completely surrounded me with love and grace throughout my life, and especially over the last six months.
Here’s the running list of Acts of Kindness (updated 12/31/2016):
#365. Delivered a letter of gratitude and an Irish blessing to the owners of The Castle.
#364. Delivered flowers to a woman at the bagel shop because she is SO sweet to us.
#363. Created one-of-a-kind artwork for my brother-in-law.
#245. Said “Bless You” while walking passed a stranger when he sneezed (he looked up surprised, smiled and said “Thank you!”)
#244. Kept my word (bike man)
#235. Working with a stranger to carry out a top-secret RAK
#228. Completed an online survey for recent car service.
#227. Let someone in traffic at awkward intersection (the person behind us did too!)
#223. Brian and I tipped a street musician and gave him two YAB “You Are Beautiful” stickers (one to keep, one to give away). : )
#222. Donated to Louisiana Floods/Red Cross efforts.
#221. Picked up garbage out in front of our favorite ice cream shop before it opened.
#220. Gave a donation to a teacher for her school supplies purchases.
#219. Left a small DQ gift card for the next customer.
#218. Gave a little extra tip at a restaurant.
#217. Paid a compliment to a stranger on her sundress (she was totally surprised and her face lit up).
#216. Made a promise to kids’ science teacher that I would purchase a dozen bottles of glue for him for the first day of school.
#215. Paid a compliment to a stranger.
#214. Gave cold water bottles to landscaping crew.
#213. Bought a bag from a friend’s online shop (kindness to self).
#212. Treated two friends to Bad Moms.
#211. Held door for a bunch of people leaving the movie theater.
#210. Started recruiting team Choosing Grace.
#209. Printed out and delivered important paperwork for neighbor.
#208. Made a donation to an important cause.
#207. Listened. While rushing to get a bunch of items checked off my to-do list, stopped to enjoy a nice conversation with one of the workers at Stop and Shop. He shared that he hasn’t had a vacation in years, he is estranged from some of his family members and he feels stuck in his job. After he finished, he said he knew I couldn’t do anything but he was thankful that I just listened.
#201. Donated dog toy to animal shelter.
#200. Paid a compliment to a stranger.
#191. Bought supplies and started packing “Blessing Bags.
#189. Complimented someone’s hairdo.
#187. Bought a Streetwise from a gentleman in the neighborhood.
#186. Cleaned up bathroom (picked up paper towels, wiped down counter) at movie theater bathroom.
#175. Cleaned up some trash in workout room.
#174. Bought ice cream treats for police officers.
#173. Held the bathroom door (lock was broken) for a stranger at a rest stop. (RAK of the Week)
#172. Left a “You Are Beautiful” sticker at a rest stop.
#171. Donated dog food to animal shelter.
#170. Hauled a bunch of carts into Target when they were all out (it’s a lot harder than it looks!).
#169. Gave a nice tip (and a NoochieRAKs card) to a man who made bubble art in Central Park.
#167. Re-registered to serve on AFSP’s Chicago Walk Committee.
#149. Bear in tree (“rescued” a teddy bear lying in the road).
#146. Delivered goodies to new puppy.
#137. Picked up a new addition for Goldie’s tank.
#130. Stop and Shop cards were donated in honor of Joan Berg and @NoochieRAKs.
#128. Helped a woman with a baby stroller get through a doorway.
#127. Gave up seat at airport so a family could sit together.
#125. Gave flowers to our neighbor and her caretaker for Mother’s Day.
#124. Let someone ahead of me in traffic.
#123. Donated a couple of gently used toys to Good Will.
#122. Assisted with a school project.
#121. Helped a girl who was left alone in movie theater (brother was working/taking tickets and babysitting at the same time).
#120. Sent a birthday card to a boy whose family requested them.
#119. Wrote TWNMLL: The World Needs More Love Letters (x3)
#118. Treated myself to yoga and mani/pedi (RAK of the Week).
#117. Gave a little extra tip at the nail salon.
#116. Complimented a stranger’s outfit in the parking lot. She was taken aback smiled and said “thank you, this old thing?”
#115. Gave a Starbucks gift card to another favorite employee at Stop and Shop. He wasn’t there on Noochie’s birthday (the original plan). When I told him the card was for him in honor of my nephew and the kids’ cousin, he said, “I normally wouldn’t accept this, but I will because it’s in honor of your nephew.” I thanked him for accepting it and said that there were many days when his kindness turned my day around. He couldn’t believe it and said he was close to tears. He was going to give me a hug, except he had Poison Ivy all over his arms, so we “air” hugged. :o)
#114. Exposed kids to culture: Prince’s music and Purple Rain. (RAK of the Week)
#113. Earth Day activities: clean-up at duck pond with kids and their friends.
#112. Earth Day activities: helped kids and their friends plant pots with sweet pea and forget-me-not seeds. I told them the Cliff’s notes version of The Money Tree and A Sweet (Pea) Memory on this Earth Day…. We also said an Earth Day prayer, thanks to Sr. Terri!
#111. Made Earth Day pots for front office staff at kids’ school.
#110. Sent a note of encouragement to someone.
#109. Donated our old dining room table and chairs to someone who just moved into an apartment.
#108. Donated kids’ clothes to Good Will.
#107. Re-shelved food items at store.
#106. Wrote and delivered thank you notes to neighbors.
#105. Cleaned up paper towels that were all over the floor at subway/rest stop.
#104. Helped lady who was cleaning up garbage at a rest stop.
#103. Gave a nice tip to server at Cubs game.
#102. Gave money to a homeless man outside of Walgreens.
#101. Held the elevator door for someone loading construction materials.
#100. Sent a Facebook message to teachers who have made an impact on my life.
#99. Let someone else use the treadmill.
#98. Complimented a stranger on his (awesome) cowboy hat.
#97. Cleaned off counter at rest stop.
#96. Donated gently used clothes to Good Will.
#95. Wrote an encouraging note to a friend.
#91. Wrote a letter for TWNMLL: The World Needs More Love Letters.
#89. Picked up and re-shelved a loaf of bread.
#87. Donated to ALW Endowment Fund
#84. Wrote three letters for TWNMLL | The World Needs More Love Letters.
#83. Surprised a former teacher with Starbucks gift card when we saw her in line at the grocery store.
#81. Helped a student with his service application essay.
#79. Donated to AFSP (Mrs. Montana will run a half marathon).
#76. Helped a neighbor who was struggling with an online form.
#75. Took gently-used toys to Goodwill.
#74. Left some scratch-off lotto tickets on a couple of cars at Goodwill.
#73. Picked up the trash (a redux)
#72. Picked up trash at the duck pond.
#71. Gave Emma Starbucks gift cards to give to others on her birthday.
#70. Write letters for RAK-mental health unit: Cards to Inspire.
#69. Gave extra tip to car wash attendant.
#68. Let someone pull ahead of me in traffic.
#67. Wrote letters for TWNMLL | The World Needs More Love Letters.
#66. Held the door open for a woman (who then held the next door for me and my children :o) )
#65. Cashed in a couple birthday scratch-off tickets and gave one to the lady behind the counter.
#64. Let a person go ahead of me at deli counter.
#63. Picked up trash in a store parking lot.
#62. Kept my word (went to tentative appointment @car dealership).
#61. Held the door for someone.
#60. Wrote a letter of encouragement.
#59. Volunteered at children’s school.
#58. Bought a treat for our pup, Jane.
#57. Smiled and greeted several people at Stop & Shop.
#56. Moved a shopping cart back into store
#55. Helped a woman pull her carry on out of the overhead bin.
#54. Left a kindness note in the airport bathroom.
#53. Gave a little extra tip for extra great service (Centro).
#52. Brought dinner to a friend who just had a baby.
#51. Gave chocolate to a conductor on Metro North (NYC to Fairfield).
#50. Cell phone dropped-told the (sleeping) gentleman who didn’t realize it.
#49. Put garbage can lid back on trash can (instead of walking by it)
#48. Gave a big tip to the dog groomer
#47. Dropped off Jane at groomers
#46. Offered my table at Starbucks to a couple who was looking for a spot to sit.
#45. Brought champagne to a friend who just completed 8 rounds of chemo.
#44. Mailed a Valentine to a friend who has shown me a lot of love.
#43. Wrote a note of congratulations to one of the classroom teachers for a job well done on school newspaper.
#42. Picked up boxes that a person dropped in front of me at BJ’s.
#41. Delivered flowers to a friend.
#40. Paper clipped a scratch off ticket to the seat of the grocery cart I was using and then left in the parking lot.
#39. Covertly snuck a lotto ticket with a “good luck” note and NoochieRAKs card in the pocket of one of the guys stocking shelves during my early Sunday morning grocery run.
#38. Made a donation to St Baldricks.
#37. Struck up a brief conversation with a stranger about the weather (neither of us was wearing coats in February) and wished him a “good day!”
#36. Left a lotto scratch-off ticket in a journal at Home Goods.
#35. Penny Challenge (found pennies and other coins for kids).
#34. Letter writing: TWNMLL |The World Needs More Love Letters.
#33. Wrote and mailed thank you notes.
#32. Baked and delivered chocolate chip cookies for our neighbor and her caregiver.
#31. Birthday Acts of Kindness: Left scratch-off tickets at the gas pump : )
#30. Sent a cookie bouquet to friends.
#29. Brought dinner to a special family.
#28. Waved at a stranger.
#27. Delivered snow brushes to neighbors during snowstorm.
#26. Donated to veterans foundation.
#25. Donated gently used coats and snow pants that I was holding onto for sentimental reason to Goodwill.
#24. Donated to a cause for my cousin’s daughter.
#23. Became an Eucharistic Minister at our Parish.
#22. “Ding Dong” Donut to my neighbor.
#21 Put kindness post it notes on random car (Melting Pot).
#20. Mailed a card to a friend I haven’t seen in a while.
#19. Sent a funny picture to a friend.
#18. Bought manicure for someone (on mom’s birthday).
#17. Sent an encouraging note to someone.
#16. Didn’t honk (or swear!) when someone cut me off in traffic. Sometimes silence is a good acts of kindness. :o)
#15. Sent email to a former boss who inspired me.
#14. Supported CT and CA Girl Scout Troops.
#13. Donated books to Wonderland Book Savers.
#12. Wrote a positive review for Target in Trumbull, CT.
#11. Shared the book with friends.
#10. Bought a book for myself (sometimes it’s good to be kind to yourself).
#9: Wrote love notes and placed in children’s lunch boxes.
#8. Sent an email complimenting a friend first thing in the morning. (http://www.sayplease.com)
#7. Stepped out of my comfort zone – took off headphones and talked with stranger on Go Shuttle.
#6. Thanked a first-time Uber driver with a Starbucks gift card for getting me to the airport safely and on time.
#5. Picked up trash in a parking lot.
#4. Left a Starbucks gift card with a NoochieRAKs card and YAB (You Are Beautiful) sticker in the safety brochure on the airplane.
#3. Donated gift cards to Bridgeport residents displaced by fire.
#2. Gave a compliment to a stranger.
#1. Donated to the Vanessa Rich Leadership Fund at the National Head Start Association.