Celebrating 40 with 40 Acts of Kindness

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40 Years, 40 Acts of Kindness
I owe great thanks to my dear friend, the wonderful Julie Hoplamazian for the idea of celebrating 40 with 40 Acts of Kindness and for the bulk of this list.

Dearest Family and Friends,

In January, I will turn 40, and I want to celebrate by sending a little more hope and joy out into the world. Below is a list of 40 different acts of kindness. I am inviting you to do one (or more!) and then share with me which one(s) you did with a few sentences of reflection.

If you are willing, I will share all the stories I receive at my local celebration in CT, as well as on this blog. Good news and heart-warming stories are meant to be shared!

I consider it a great privilege to reach this milestone age. Thank you for joining me in celebration of all the blessings of our lives.

with so much gratitude,

Molly

(mollyfjames@gmail.com or you can just comment below)

Some possibilities . . .

1. Write a letter - not an email - to someone who needs a pick-me-up

2. Leave a generous tip

3. Ask someone how they’re doing, and listen to the answer

4. Take out your neighbor’s trash

5. Donate to a school lunch program or The Locker Project

6. Donate to a teacher’s need page

7. Send someone flowers for no reason

8. Send someone a card just to say hello

9. Volunteer at a local soup kitchen

10. Volunteer at a local homeless shelter

11. Accompany an immigrant to their ICE check-in (visit newsanctuarynyc.org for more information)

12. Pay for the person behind you in line

13. Call that person you’ve been meaning to call

14. Send something to troops, either for the holidays or otherwise

15. Send a college kid you know a care package

16. Babysit a friend’s kids and give them the night off

17. Spend one whole day only giving compliments to everyone you see

18. That person you can’t stand? Find one nice thing about them and tell them directly.

19. For one week, only share uplifting, inspiring posts on social media

20. For one week, only like/comment on uplifting, inspiring posts on social media

21. Give/ read a book to a child

22. Bring a meal to friends who are strung out and could use a hand

23. Every time you catch yourself thinking negative thoughts about a person, pray for them instead. Prayer changes things, usually us

24. Donate to one of the following organizations in my honor:

Make-A-Wish of Maine

Maine Children's Cancer Program

The Jimmy Fund

25. With their consent, give someone a hug who really needs it

26. Bring a treat to work for everyone to share

27. Leave a positive sticky note on someone’s desk

28. Let the person behind you in line go in front of you

29. Write a card to hospitalized child through Cards for Hospitalized Kids

30. Offer to help someone who needs it

31. Write a note of encouragement to your religious leader

32. Pick up your neighborhood litter

33. Give a stranger a compliment

34. Give a meal to the homeless person asking for help

35. Support a local small business

36. Donate gently used clothes you no longer wear

37. Give up your seat on the subway/bus/train

38. Take the time to write or give a positive review

39. Say hello to the person on the elevator, on the sidewalk, or other place you’d usually just keep quiet.

40. Think of your own act of kindness! And while you’re at it… be kind to yourself too!