#BeKindBham: 23 ways to celebrate National Random Acts of Kindness Day
Reading time: 5 minutes
Hey Birmingham, Sunday, February 17 is National Random Acts of Kindness Day. Why wait to celebrate? We’ve got 23 ways you can get started right now.
1. Start each day by complimenting the first three people you talk to.
This will set the tone for not only your day, but theirs too. Start a chain reaction with kindness.
2. Shop local.
Buy your groceries at Organic Harvest in Hoover, or stop by Little Hardware in Mountain Brook and purchase the supplies for your next DIY project.
3. Send a letter to a friend who lives in a different city.
Snail mail is the most underrated way to show someone you’re thinking of them. It’s thoughtful and worth the extra effort.
4. Say good morning to the person next to you on the elevator.
It’s so simple, but you never know how a person’s day is going and you could change it for the better.
5. Pick up litter at one of Birmingham’s lovely parks.
Take a walk through Railroad Park downtown with a bag in tow. Along the way, pick up any trash you find. You’re getting exercise and helping the environment. Win, Win.
6. Dedicate 24 hours to spreading positivity on social media.
Shoutout your favorite accounts, and tell your followers why they’re great! (We are @BhamNow on social if you were wondering…)
7. Leave a generous tip for a barista or server.
Want to go the extra mile? Leave them a nice note on the check to go along with it.
8. Donate old clothes or household items to a local thrift store or second hand shop.
Check out our story on how to clean out your home and where to donate around Birmingham.
9. Let someone in when you’re driving Highway 280 during 5 o’clock traffic.
Don’t let the construction turn you into a road rager.
10. Volunteer with a local charity.
Get involved with charities like the Ronald McDonald House to help local families or the Black Warrior Riverkeepers to clean up local rivers.
11. Place an uplifting note on someone’s desk, computer screen or car window.
Grab a sticky note, write a quick uplifting message, and you’re done! It’s really that easy.
12. Recycle and create less waste for a week.
Drop off waste at the UAB Recycling Center or Birmingham Recycling and Recovery. Check out our guide to creating less waste and keeping Alabama beautiful.
13. Share a meaningful conversation with a stranger.
Introduce yourself and ask them how they’re doing. It could make their whole day.
14. Write a positive review for some of your favorite businesses in Birmingham.
Take five minutes to tell them what you love about them and why.
15. Cook a meal for someone.
It could be a surprise breakfast for a spouse, a family dinner or a meal for a neighbor or someone in need.
16. Pay it forward.
Pick up the coffee order of the person in line behind you or grab coffee for a co-worker at a local coffee shop like Filter-Coffee Parlor in Five Points.
17. Learn the names of your office security guard, mail carrier or the person at the front desk and greet them by name.
This makes an otherwise surface level encounter a bit more personal.
18. Write a thank you note to someone who has recently helped you in some way —big or small.
Hand written thank you notes are guaranteed to make a lasting impression. It can mean a lot to someone to know see the thought behind your gesture.
19. Make an introduction for a coworker or friend.
It could be a career changing connection or a lifelong friendship that you help facilitate.
20. Recommend a book you recently read to a friend, or buy a new book from local bookstores.
Swing by Reed Books downtown or Alabama Booksmith in Homewood.
21. Bake treats for someone in the community like the Birmingham Police or Fire Department.
It’s a small way to say thank you to the people who give so much every day to the community.
22. Make someone a playlist with songs that remind you of them or fun songs just to cheer them up.
Don’t have the words to explain how much someone means to you? Put it in a playlist.
23. Put a quarter —or two— in an expired meter downtown.
Because who wants to deal with tickets and towing?
Most of these aren’t grand gestures, but they can have a huge impact. Try to incorporate these little acts into your weekly routine and when you do, share it with us on social media @BhamNow with #BeKindBham.
