People who are living their final days have taught us many things. One of the most important is appreciation for the present moment. Another is gratitude for the good things in our lives—an Act of Kindness is a concrete expression of that appreciation. To honor this lesson given to us by the dying and their families, the Maine Hospice Council and Center for End-of-Life Care is launching an Act of Kindness project.
Research shows that Acts of Kindness—both given and received—increase happiness. The joy received When we honored someone with a gift, their joy far outweighs the cost. Most people enjoy giving more than receiving. Receiving a gift from a complete stranger is unique. An unexpected gift surprises us and reminds us that we matter, that others care about us. Sometimes these gifts come when we need them most.
Here’s an example: Debbie has been struggling with overwhelming sadness since the death of her beautiful 25-year-old daughter. One particularly bad day, when every song on the car radio was gloomier than the last, Debbie placed her usual order at the drive-thru of her local coffee shop and noticed an angel decal on the rear window of the car in front of her. When she pulled forward to pay, the cashier informed her that the driver had paid for her order. This simple act of kindness made Debbie smile, bringing her a moment of joy in a time of deep sorrow.
Download Act of Kindness Tags Tags suitable for printing (PDF). Then, here are some Acts of Kindness Ideas to get you started:
- Bring a healthy treat to work. Attach a MAINE HOSPICE COUNCIL (MHC) Act of Kindness tag.
- Cook a meal for a friend who is going through a difficult time. Do a load of laundry for someone with a new baby. Leave a MAINE HOSPICE COUNCIL (MHC) Act of Kindness tag.
- When you see an expired parking meter, put a coin in and leave a MAINE HOSPICE COUNCIL (MHC) Act of Kindness tag on the windshield.
- Leave your New York Times or US Weekly behind on the plane, at the coffee shop or doctor’s office, for someone else to read. Tuck a MAINE HOSPICE COUNCIL (MHC)Act of Kindness tag inside the magazine—maybe even write a note.
- Let the person behind you in the checkout line go ahead first. Tell them to Have a GREAT day! as you hand them a MAINE HOSPICE COUNCIL (MHC) Act of Kindness tag.
- Give away stuff for FREE on Craigslist and attach a MAINE HOSPICE COUNCIL (MHC) Act of Kindness tag to the item.
- Give someone a book you think they’d like and include a quick note and a MAINE HOSPICE COUNCIL (MHC) Act of Kindness tag.
- Put some fun office supplies in a basket (colored dry erase markers, shaped post-it notes, holiday themed pencils, etc.) to liven up the workday. Attach a MAINE HOSPICE COUNCIL (MHC) Act of Kindness tag to the basket, and tuck more tags in with the supplies.
- Send anonymous flowers to someone who could use a lift. Ask the florist to attach a MAINE HOSPICE COUNCIL (MHC) Act of Kindness tag. Give a tag to the florist, too!
- Leave a $10 gas card at the pump with a MAINE HOSPICE COUNCIL (MHC) Act of Kindness tag attached.
- Deliver candy, baked goods or a fruit basket to the nurse’s station at your local hospital or nursing home. Include a note of appreciation and a MAINE HOSPICE COUNCIL (MHC) Act of Kindness tag.
- Pay the turnpike toll for the person behind you. Give the toll taker two MAINE HOSPICE COUNCIL (MHC) Act of Kindness tags—one for the driver behind you and one for the toll taker.
- Clean the snow off a colleague’s car after work. Leave a MAINE HOSPICE COUNCIL (MHC) Act of Kindness tag on the windshield.
- Leave some extra quarters in the laundry room in a clear zip lock bag. Attach a MAINE HOSPICE COUNCIL (MHC) Act of Kindness tag and pin it to the message board.
- Put together a small herb garden as a gift. Use a plant spike to provide a MAINE HOSPICE COUNCIL (MHC) Act of Kindness tag.
- Print and frame a friend’s favorite lyric or quote and give it to him or her anonymously along with a MAINE HOSPICE COUNCIL (MHC) Act of Kindness tag.
- Eating out? Anonymously order a dessert for another table. Give the server two MAINE HOSPICE COUNCIL (MHC) Act of Kindness tags—one for him or her and one for the people at the other table.
- Mow the lawn or snow blow the driveway for your neighbor while they’re away. Leave a MAINE HOSPICE COUNCIL (MHC) Act of Kindness tag on the front door.
- Take some baked goods to the local ambulance, police, or fire department along with a MAINE HOSPICE COUNCIL (MHC) Act of Kindness tag.
- Buy an extra umbrella at a yard sale or Goodwill and keep it in your car with a MAINE HOSPICE COUNCIL (MHC) Act of Kindness tag attached. Hand it to a stranger in a sudden downpour.
- Knit or crochet baby blankets. After attaching a MAINE HOSPICE COUNCIL (MHC) Act of Kindness tag, donate to a local hospital or pediatric office.
- Pay for the person in line behind you at the drive-thru. Give the cashier two MAINE HOSPICE COUNCIL (MHC) Act of Kindness tags—one for the cashier and the other for the driver behind you.
- Bake something special or make a meal for a neighbor who’s been ill. Attach a MAINE HOSPICE COUNCIL (MHC) Act of Kindness tag.
- Put some spare change in a zip lock bag, attach a MAINE HOSPICE COUNCIL (MHC) Act of Kindness tag, and leave it at the vending machines at work. Replace the bag and the tag when they disappear.
- Carry an extra pair of gloves and a hat in your car. Give them to someone who looks like they could use them. Attach a MAINE HOSPICE COUNCIL (MHC) Act of Kindness tag.
- Buy a $10 gift card at the supermarket or department store. Tape it to a package of diapers in the store, along with a MAINE HOSPICE COUNCIL (MHC) Act of Kindness tag.
