How do we overcome the persistent feeling of isolation and loneliness in modern life? By first extending a hand, an ear, an olive branch…whatever we can muster…
“For small creatures such as we, the vastness is bearable only through love.”
– Carl Sagan
Random acts of kindness kindle authentic trust! (#rakKat)
This week is random acts of kindness week culminating in random acts of kindness day on February 17th, a day first observed in New Zealand in 2004. Many claim the concept originated back in 1982 when writer Anne Herbert scribbled the words “practice random kindness and senseless acts of beauty” on a placemat in a Sausalito, CA restaurant, a phrase she coined in opposition to the well-known “random acts of violence and senseless acts of cruelty”.
In 1993 a book called Random Acts of Kindness was published and as a result, media coverage in the U.S. ensued. The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation was founded in 1995 to provide a resource for individuals and groups interested in spreading kindness in their communities. And RAK week was born…
KINDNESS STARTS WITH ONE – We all struggle. We all stress. But thankfully, we also all love (aww). And we’ve all had that moment when we feel like maybe what we are doing doesn’t make a difference. But we’ve discovered the loophole to that dilemma! Being good to others. Kindness really does start with one—one person, one act, one place, one city, one county, and one movement with one goal in mind: To make our world a kinder place one act at a time. And, every single one of us can play a part in this mission.
This movement is a counterbalance to the loneliness and isolation in the world. Kindness connects us with one another and creates deeper meaning in our lives. This is what’s missing in our lives, this is what the #rakKat is all about! Let us spread joy and love this week, and every week, and every single where that you GO!
To get you started, here are a few of my favorite kindness action resources:
Kindness Action Communities
- Become a RAKtivist at the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation randomactsofkindness.org
- Sign Karen Armstrong’s Charter for Compassion at http://charterforcompassion.org
- Share a smile, be kind, pass it on spreadkindness.org
- Be a part of the World Kindness Movement http://www.theworldkindnessmovement.org/
- Participate in Good Deeds Day http://www.good-deeds-day.org/
- Give back on Giving Tuesday https://www.givingtuesday.org/
- Join A Network for Grateful Living
- Sign up for Kind Spring challenges http://www.kindspring.org/
- Check out Project Happiness
- Pinterest boards: My Random Acts of Kindness board
- FB pages: Action for Happiness, The Optimist Daily, Kindness Quotes, and more…
Research Centers
- Stanford Center for Compassion and Altruism Research http://ccare.stanford.edu/
- Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center http://greatergood.berkeley.edu
- The Positive Emotions and Psychology Lab unc.edu/peplab
- The Center for Mindful Self-Compassion http://self-compassion.org
Podcasts, Books & Other Experts
- John Hope Bryant Love Leadership
- Carol Dweck’s work on the Growth Mindset
- Radical Candor radicalcandor.com
- David Hamilton, PhD Using Science to Inspire
- The Science of Happiness from the Greater Good Science Center
- BJ Foff, PhD Persuasive Tech Lab http://tinyhabits.org
- Kelly McGonigal on the science of willpower, compassion, and the upside of stress
- Behave by Robert Sapolsky
- Kare Anderson on Mutuality Matters
- Brene Brown, the power of vulnerability
- ThinkHard with Danielle LaSusa & Jose Muniz
- Adam Grant Give and Take
Products
- Compendium inspirational gifts
- Compassionate Caramels
- Random Acts of Flowers http://randomactsofflowers.org/
- Cuddle + Kind https://www.cuddleandkind.com/
The health benefits of kindness are undeniable!
So get out there and run a #rakKat!!!
Happy RAK Week everyone!