Where Advocacy, Special Needs Parenting, & Life Collide
The Other Half of ‘Random Acts of Kindness’
Ever heard of Random Acts of Kindness Day?
Or have you heard of just the idea of Random Acts of Kindness?
You might have heard a story or two about the kindness of a stranger in paying for a harried mother’s cartload of groceries, or the person buying coffee or a fast food purchase for the person behind them in line.
But I think the whole idea of Random Acts of Kindness, of the actual Random Acts of Kindness Day goes far beyond what you can buy for someone else. In researching the history of the movement, I found that most people trace the popular thought back to writer Anne Herbert, who wrote:
“…Falling in love has always been a bit too much to apply to one person. Falling in love is appropriate for now, to love all these things which are about to leave. The rocks are watching, and the squirrels and the stars and the tired people in the street. If you love them, let them know, with grace and non-invasive extravagance. Care about the beings you care about in gorgeous and surprising ways. Color outside the lines. Practice random kindness and senseless acts of beauty. This is your last chance.” {Emphasis and paragraph breaks were added by me} Source: “Handy tips on how to behave at the death of the world” in Whole Earth Review (Spring 1995), p. 88
Forgetting the other Half of Random Acts of Kindness
Aside from the beauty of the words themselves, I see in this an idea that many have forgotten when they think about Random Acts of Kindness. Yes, in the end it is about doing something kind and unexpected, randomly, for another person. I think the larger thought, though, is in the words Herbert shared so eloquently.
Life could end at any moment, and every moment is a chance to share your love for life, for the people in that life, for the people in your world. Find a way to do it with grace, with inspiration, thinking not of yourself, but of the person on the other side of the act.
Random acts of kindness, though wonderful in itself, was only half of that infamous sentence Herbert penned, the other half should be our inspiration, I think: “Senseless acts of Beauty.” When we think of something beautiful, we don’t often think about senseless things, we think of someone with, perhaps, natural beauty, or the beauty in nature … we think about beauty in things that make sense in our otherwise senseless world.
Senseless Acts of Beauty IS Part of the Equation
What Herbert spoke of, and what I think we should all consider, is that finding beauty in the senseless is just as important as practicing kindness.
Why?
Because if you can’t see the beauty in the world around you – how do you then celebrate it? Someone happy in the simple freedom of a meal paid for, a toll paid, a kind word shared … if you can find beauty in that, then you can be inspired to continue it, they can be inspired to continue it. And it’s no longer one person doing a random act or finding beauty in the senseless…it’s many people doing kindness for others and it’s society finding beauty in a world that seems a little brighter for it.
But, No one Has Shown Me A Random Act of Kindness Lately
It’s sometimes hard to see beauty in the senseless things around us, to practice random acts of kindness when it seems the world has forgotten to show us the same. And yet, the act of giving, of thinking about another person–however fleetingly–can in itself be an act of kindness, one that benefits both giver and receiver.
Maybe no one has paid for your coffee or toll lately. Maybe counting out the last of your change to pay for groceries wasn’t met with a stranger’s generous spirit and a helping hand. But … do you give when you are able to, in however small a way, because you will get something in return? Or do you give a little bit of yourself — a little bit of hope, of faith, maybe even of love?
Not because the act in and of itself is so beautiful, but because something so small, and so seemingly insignificant, can make a difference in someone else’s day. It can lead to something unexpectedly beautiful.
Perhaps even senselessly beautiful.
Have you ever been the recipient of a random act of kindness by a stranger?
Have you ever perpetuated random act of kindness?
Katrina Moody
Graphic Designer, Wordpress Addict, Blogger at Kat's Media & More
I'm a special needs parent before just about everything else in life, but also a passionate advocate for my three boys and husband, who all have a bit of awesomeness about them. Awesomeness = Axenfeld-Rieger Syndrome, Autism, Epilepsy, Dyslexia, Cerebral Palsy, and more. It all adds up to some awesome kids and an amazing family.
@KatrinaMoody
Wife; Mom to 3 guys w/ARS, autism, epilepsy & awesomeness; Advocate. Writer, Graphic Designer, Wordpress addict, social media nut. Site: http://katsmedia.com &
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Beautifully written, Katrina. When I’m able, I have always tried to do a random act of kindness here and there . . . just because I AM able. I’ve always believed that if I’m ever in dire need someone will come out of the woodwork and do the same for me.
What a kinder world we would all live in if like minded folks got together and spread a little kindness regularly. It can be so easy to do. I know it doesn’t take much for me to be in awe of someone’s kindness.
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Good write up Katrina. random kindness is what every people need to maintain great kindness to everyone. Also, beauty of one’s person is not measure in it’s physical appearance but also in it’s kindness.
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Well said Katrina. I especially liked the last part about how this is something we can do even if we have not received a random act of kindness or beauty from someone else. I think that can be the whole point as doing this random act not only brings kindness and beauty to the life of the person who receives it, but also for the person that does it. I remember very specifically a principal I had in grade school who has a down’s syndrome daughter and it was his steadfast acts of kindness for her that really inspired the rest of us to do these random acts of kindness.
Absolutely Chris! I think it is so easy to ‘wait’ until someone does something for us to want to return the favor, to pay it forward … but the beautiful part of it all really comes into play when you are proactive! Thanks so much for stopping by!
Good article – I always believe that random acts of kindness will always be reciprocated in some shape or form.
Katrina, what a wonderful post. If we keep our eyes and mind open, we will see that there are people doing kind acts all around us. Thank you for reminding us to be more open and aware to our surroundings and to spread the kindness ourselves!