As we move towards Christmas we tend to get caught up in our own lives and sometimes the stress and pressure that many of us experience at this time of year means we fail to notice that someone may need our help.

I read an article recently that listed the top 10 random acts of kindness that people would most like to receive. The number 1 answer was getting a hand written note in the mail. That may surprise many of the younger generation (under 30) but  I kind of know what they mean. Any time I get any kind of mail that’s not a bill, I feel a bit like a kid in the lolly shop. So I got to thinking about the experiences I had had with Random Acts of Kindness in my life.

My parents used to come to Australia from Scotland every few years and my mum had this habit of always leaving a number of hand written notes for me in different places around the house which I found after she’d gone back to the UK. I found them for weeks afterwards, under the pillow, in my purse, in a drawer, in a book etc and I can’t tell you how good these notes made me feel. Anyone who has family spread around the world will know how sad and upsetting it can be saying goodbye at the airport but these notes helped me so much. Sadly, I don’t think I ever told her how much these little notes meant to me.

So during this busy period just take a few moments each day and consider what you could do to make someone’s day.

So here are a few reasons why you should practice random acts of kindness:

  • Believe it or not you have the power to change someone’s life for the better by carrying out a random act of kindness. You may simply intervene and lift their spirits or you might change their whole way of thinking. My mum used to do so many little things like this that I took for granted whilst I was growing up but now realise what a beautiful soul she was and how much these kind acts have helped to mould the person I am today.
  • Change your whole mood by caring about someone else. There is no doubt that the person giving the random act of kindness reaps as much joy and pleasure as the receiver. You will never feel badly about saying something kind to a stranger, nor will you ever feel badly about receiving positive, kind and heartfelt words from someone you don’t know. In fact we all know that it absolutely makes our day.
  • The Laws of Attraction prevail if you extend love, compassion and kindness out into the Universe, watch it return to you in leaps and bounds.

Now what are you awaiting for, what will your first random act of kindness be today?