Yesterday a friend posted a photo to her facebook page.
She had gone to pick up lunch for her husband from a fast food restaurant and was surprised to see the note attached to her bag when she picked it up. The note read, “in a country so divided, only good and love can overcome hate. Please enjoy your lunch and pay it forward to help our country move forward.”
We all too often forget that even our smallest actions can impact so many.
Love and kindness are timeless traits. They don’t cost a dime and you can share them anywhere.
Love and kindness do not discriminate and bring together people of all walks of life. We can show our love for one another no matter how young or old. Our actions speak louder than words and these actions, even the smallest, can make a huge difference in someones day and in your community.
As our children learn from our example, not just the words that we say, we can show them how to love your neighbor. Show them that love and kindness are to be shown above all else. When they see our example of how to love your neighbor, they will repeat this. They will learn from us and show this love to their friends.
100 Ways to Love your Neighbor
Teaching our children how to love can be as simple as getting them involved in a few random acts of kindness each week. These do not have to be huge gestures, on the contrary sometimes the smallest act of kindness can have the biggest impact.
- smile
- wave and say hello
- hold the door for someone
- cut the grass
- bring in their trashcans
- take them their newspaper
- buy a cup of coffee
- buy someone lunch
- give them a card, just because
- bring them flowers
- bake cookies
- offer to pick up groceries
- bring them dinner
- carry someones bags
- leave a kind note
- offer to watch their children
- water their plants
- acknowledge strangers on the street
- add money to an expired meter
- offer your seat to someone who needs it
- call an old friend to catch up
- allow drivers to merge into your lane
- make chicken soup for a friend or neighbor that is sick
- write a thank you note
- bring a treat to share at work
- give compliments generously
- give a surprise gift
- thank your law enforcement
- visit a retirement home
- give bags of toiletries and food to the homeless
- be polite to store clerks
- volunteer in your community
- send a text to let someone know you’re thinking about them
- Leave surprise notes for someone to find
- listen when someone else is talking
- offer a shoulder to cry on
- help a friend or neighbor move
- carry something heavy for someone
- forgive a debt or grievance
- give the benefit of the doubt
- don’t listen to gossip
- donate items you do not need
- send gifts to needy at Christmas time
- invite someone to share a meal
- open your home for a holiday
- learn peoples names and use them
- offer a ride to someone that may need help
- pay the difference when someone comes up short at the store
- be positive and encouraging
- share a good book
- buy a small gift, just because
- leave encouraging notes around town
- donate school supplies
- plant flowers
- be kind to a mother that may be having a hard time
- offer water to the children out playing
- offer to take care of someones animals while they’re not home
- offer to watch someones house while their out of town
- put together a neighborhood watch program to look out for each other
- get together with neighbors for a cookout
- donate blankets to a shelter
- help clean up after a storm
- put your phone down and make eye contact
- have a chat with another mom at the park
- help a mom with her stroller
- be kind and smile at small children, even if they’re upset
- ask “how can I help” when you see someone struggling
- pick up litter
- say “please” and “thank you”
- hold the elevator
- give a hug
- share an umbrella
- take the cart back for someone
- bring in muffins to the teachers at school
- shovel snow for someone
- leave coins at the laundromat
- pay a cars toll behind you
- let someone else have the parking spot
- give a gift card to someone who needs it
- plant a tree
- buy a cold drink for someone on a hot day
- buy a hot drink on a cold day
- leave a note on someone’s car
- introduce yourself
- share your skills and talents
- introduce friends you think will get along
- do a load of laundry for a new mom or someone who is sick
- leave chocolates (or another treat) for a coworker
- write a thank you note to your server
- give directions to someone who is lost
- say sorry when you’re wrong
- connect job opportunities to someone that is looking
- befriend someone who is lonely
- help a neighbor hang their holiday decorations
- be positive and not have a bad attitude
- lend a helping hand, whatever it may be
- watch out for the neighborhood children by driving slowly and cautiously
- share an inspiring story
- leave a nice comment for someone on social media
- leave your extra change at the cash register
Which random act of kindness will you make a point to do today to show that you love your neighbor?
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