A couple of weeks ago, I did an offer for Random Kindness Friday cards that I upcycled from an old page-a-day calendar. To each person's card, in addition to the calendar suggestion, I added a suggestion from me and a suggestion from someone else who claimed the offer.

I used half of my available calendar pages, but still have another set left, and I just posted a Round 2 offer today. (Go claim, what're you waiting for?! But then come back here!)

Since I got such great suggestions the first time, many of which were mail-themed, and since some people wanted to share ideas but not claim cards, and since other people asked me for a list of the suggestions to include in their own cards... I thought I'd see if it's OK to throw a post here on meta to round up all the suggestions and give people a place other than my original offer post to comment on things they tried because of the cards they got, and how they went.

Here are all the suggestions I have documented. Note: I actually, dumbly, did not write down the ones from the page-a-day calendars on the cards I already sent out. So, uh, if you got one, and wouldn't mind sending me a quick note or commenting here with what the calendar page suggestion was, I would sure be thrilled...?

TL;DR: Suggestions of kind things to do listed below, will update with new ones as received. Comment more suggestions. Comment acts of kindness you've done based on this carding project. Praise other people for their kindnesses because that's always nice. Go claim today's offer when I post it in a few minutes. Boom. Nicer world via cards.

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Calendar page suggestions

• The next time it rains, carry an extra umbrella and offer it to a waterlogged stranger.
• Look up places where you can volunteer or tutor someone. Deed (joinindeed.com) is a good app that will lead you to opportunities in your neighborhood. The world needs helpers!
• (This one was from the Friday before Mother's Day in the calendar and is VERY special to me as someone who has lost their mom.) If you have a friend who has lost their mother, check in with them today, make a date for Sunday, or just be available.
• Block that road rage! Smile at the next person trying to merge and let them in, or stop and let that waiting car turn, or just slow down a bit if someone's not going fast enough in the passing lane.
• If you're an omnivore, try a vegetarian day. If you're a vegetarian, try a vegan day. It's good for your health and good for the planet!
• Bring an extra reusable shopping bag on your next grocery store outing to give to that person who forgot theirs.
• Text someone good morning or goodnight - or both! Let them know you think they're great and that you wish them good things throughout the day and evening.
• When you are called to leave a tip, overtip. Lavishly. For the price of a few dollars, you can feel very generous, and your tipee will feel just as great.
• If you see someone who looks lost, ask them if they need directions. It can be hard to admit you don't know which way to turn.
• Design a beautiful paper bookmark to pair with the gift of a book for someone special. Blank books, secondhand books, and dream journals count, too!
• If one of the people you interact with regularly has a different birth language from you, learn how to say "Good morning," "Thank you," or "Have a nice day" and surprise them with a greeting in their own language the next time you see them.
• Post a positive public comment on a website for a person or a business that could use the help. It's best when you can be specific and descriptive.

Suggestions from me, u/PinkPengin

• If there is a nursing home, shelter or other group housing near you, ask if you can donate fresh flowers to decorate their shared spaces. These homes can be somewhat “bland” and people living there often appreciate the burst of color and life!
• Go to a place to eat where servers accept tips. Order something small – just a drink or side – and then leave a tip bigger than the cost of your order. You and the server will both smile.
• If you are going through a drive-through for food or drinks, ask at the window if you can pay for the order in the vehicle behind you as well as your own. Sometimes this can start a chain reaction!
• Smile at someone in a store, walking down the street, in an elevator, delivering your packages, or anywhere else. It is such a little thing but can make a huge difference.
• You can often donate old towels, sheets and blankets to local animal shelters and rescues to help make the pets’ cages more comfortable!
• Put a sticky note that says “Treat yourself” onto a small paper money bill ($1 or $5 bill in the USA, or equivalent) and quietly tuck it in the candy bar bins at a grocery or convenience store.
• Buy a small item from a local artisan or independent business to support their efforts. I love buying little pieces of art or handmade cards in local shops when I can!
• Compliment something small about the next person you encounter while working or shopping – a piece of jewelry, the color of their shirt, a tattoo or hairstyle or glasses or their smile. It is a great pick-me-up!
• Put a card in with your outgoing mail addressed “To my letter carrier” (you don’t even have to put postage on this, in most places). Say thanks for all they do to support our carding community.
• Thank a coworker, family member or friend for some way that they helped you. Be as specific as you can! You can say it in person, text, email or send a card.

Suggestions from other RAoCers

• Something kind to do is ask a stranger how their day is going. Sometimes that can really brighten someone’s day. You never know if someone’s having a bad day and just needs someone to talk to😺 ~ from u/Stunning_Presence_7
• You can leave quarters somewhere they are used often (vending machines, laundromat, car wash). ~ from u/-random_ness-
• My act of kindness would be to fill up your area's blessing boxes. Or anything you can donate. Homeless people need socks, can openers, period products, and toothbrushes more than you know. ~ from u/SherlockLady
• My favourite small act of kindness is giving compliments to others, no matter if friends, family, colleagues or strangers. Never fails to make someone smile and it feels great. :) ~ from u/freakyfreakycreepy
• My number one go-to kindness action is to be extra polite to anyone working, such as retail employees, restaurant servers, grocery clerks, etc. I say hello, please and thank you, and try to wish them a good day before they do for me (because that is often required of their jobs). ~ from u/htmljenn
• My random kindness is to always offer to help whether you see them struggling or not. Many times, you will get a, no, or I'm ok, but it's those times where someone is like yes, please or thank you that make the difference. ~ from u/postaltherapy
• My neighbors constantly drop by with home baked goods and flowers/vegetables from their gardens…just because. We’ve done the same in return. ~ from u/goodgirlathena
• Something I try to do every time that I am outside is give a stranger a compliment. Today I saw a girl with super cool rainbow socks and she had this fantastic smile when I told her I really liked them. Something small like that can brighten someone's day so much. ~ from u/RainbowxKaro
• My kind thing I do for strangers is to offer a random compliment, shoes, top, hair, etc. I find it really brightens their day. ~ from u/KatDuq
• I like to help people get their shopping carts put away or take the cart for them. It’s helpful for those who have mobility issues plus also ensuring the cart gets to the corral can help retail employees when they go to collect :) For most people it’s a small time saver and just a nice gesture. ~ from u/Klutzy_Effective8600
• Bring cookies or any other treats for co-workers. It's especially effective on Mondays! ~ from u/New_Year_Baby
• Smiling and saying thank you. It goes a long way. ~ from u/fancayschmanzayyy
• Send cards, or give them out. Not just here but to the nursing home and your aunt and the bus driver and the anything kid in your class. Just a few kind words and you've made someone's day. ~ from u/mumbagoespainting
• Give someone a compliment! ~ from u/draconic_healing
• When you know your friend is going through a hard moment/day/project/etc., Venmo them $5 as a surprise and say treat yourself! it's such a delight to give and to receive! ~ from u/bridgewires
• Tell someone about some art you saw that they might enjoy as well! ~ from u/bridgewires
• Donate your time! How about spending quality time with a random person? ~ from u/Mlks00
• Be accepting of other people's opinions. ~ from u/Ok_Ad2591
• Find reasons to praise and compliment somebody who's in your life. Most people don't get enough compliments, and a compliment coming from a loved one is twice as valuable! ~ from u/OkayFlan
• I know someone who would carry around a stack of sticky notes, write nice messages on them and sneak them onto surfaces - classmates' textbooks, strangers' cars, friends' refrigerators. That always kinda stuck with me (pun intended?). I just know some of those stickies made someone's day, it's such a sweet thing to do. ~ from u/unfinished-phras
• A simple act of kindness idea is putting the blocker bar on the conveyor belt at the grocery store cash register for the person behind you. :) ~ from u/calculatingmove
• Help someone bring their groceries to their car, or take the shopping cart to the carrel for them. Sometimes, people need help carrying pizzas! (I've actually done this one!) ~ from u/thecaledonianrose
• After mowing, sweep your neighbor’s sidewalk or driveway. ~ from u/sexygal79

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