Instead of enjoying the traditional advent calendar this month where you uncover small goodies or trinkets, why not start a tradition of a Random Acts of Kindness Advent Calendar?
Every day you uncover a kindness “task” you do. Remember though, the other person needs to be receptive to being helped so you should always ask first prior to helping in a physical manner.
Here’s some ideas for random acts:
December 1: Make a card and send it to a friend for no reason.
December 2: Drop off books and magazines to a hospital, nursing home or doctors office.
December 3: Give a compliment to the manager of someone who helps you today.
December 4: Check in on someone you know is alone.
December 5: Send someone a small gift anonymously.
December 6: Hold the door open for someone today.
December 7: Make eye contact and smile at those you encounter today.
December 8: Run an errand for someone.
December 9: Send a thank you note to someone who has helped you in the past.
December 10: Forgive someone in a bad mood or who is negative today and say something genuinely nice to them.
December 11: Help someone at the grocery store retrieve something out of their reach or difficult for them.
December 12: Purchase a couple extra bags of dog food and bring to a local animal shelter.
December 13: Leave your change in the soda machine, vending machine, parking meter, etc. today for the next person.
December 14: Offer someone behind you at the grocery store to go ahead of you.
December 15: Say hello to everyone you come in contact with today.
December 16: Renew a relationship with someone you’ve lost touch with.
December 17: Listen to (don’t just hear them) everyone you speak with today.
December 18: Offer to help someone do a task they don’t want to do.
December 19: Ask a friend or family member about something important to them and genuinely show interest in what they have to say.
December 20: Return a shopping cart for a stranger in the parking lot.
December 21: Pick up litter you see lying around by the road or in a parking lot.
December 22: Offer to help someone who looks like they need assistance (i.e. a mother trying to open a door, an elderly person pumping gas, etc.).
December 23: Acknowledge someone who has helped you today, no matter how small the task.
December 24: Say an encouraging word today.
December 25: Tell all your family members how much you appreciate them.
This can be made in any way you can think of – canvas, paper, plywood, or simply making a list and attaching it to the refrigerator.
In the example shown, I’ve used a blank canvas (11″ x 14″), painted it off-white and made 25 small envelopes from a sheet of “jingle bells” sheet music. I had tags from an office supply store lying around, so I attached ribbon to the tags and adhered the acts of kindness.
Let the countdown begin!
