Hi Hamama Friends! We all know that kind words or a nice gesture, whether it be to a loved one or a complete stranger, can brighten up someone’s entire day! Thursday, February 17th is “Random Acts of Kindness Day” and we’re inviting you to celebrate with us. The idea of this celebration is to make the world a little better & brighter through simple kind gestures, words and actions…big or small. Of course we should show kindness to others every day, but with busy lives and hectic schedules, sometimes we need a reminder to slow down and really spread the love. “If you do good, you’ll feel good.” -Ann Curry. If you want to be extra, get a small gift for someone you love to show you care. Who doesn’t love to receive little surprise gifts on random occasions?! This could be something you’ve heard them talk about in prior conversations (even passing on something you already own that they love) or a total surprise that you know they’ll enjoy! If your creative juices aren’t flowing, some gifts that are always a hit might include a fresh bouquet of flowers / new houseplant (or Hamama Microgreen Kit 😉), a home-cooked meal, bakery or a coffee from the local coffee shop. We asked some of our Hamama team members:"What's one way you share kindness with others in your life?" ”I love doing all of the ‘behind the scenes’ things that make someone's life a little easier. Also….HUGS!” ”I love surprising people with a homemade meal or baked goods. I am also a big fan of making bouquets of fresh flowers/lavender/eucalyptus to make someone’s space a bit more cheery. Good old snail mail is also one of my favorite ways to surprise someone and make them smile (better than opening up another bill, am I right?!). Finally, printing photos that bring back great feelings is something I do often for friends and family…everything is digital these days so it’s so nice to have a physical print of a great memory to look at. I really believe that any small act of kindness can be received in a big way.” ”I share kindness by sending my love out to everyone (family and strangers and everyone in between!) and by telling loved ones how much I love them and that I am here for them always. Nothing beats knowing that someone is thinking about you, supporting you and always has your back. Oh, I also love cooking special meals for people!” ”It could be because I'm from the Midwest, but simply giving a smile to people when walking down the street is one of my favorite ways to show kindness. It makes everyone feel good and a bit happier :). I also make an effort to do small things for the people I love to make life a bit easier for them.” ”My go-to act of kindness that I am consistent with is sending ‘thinking of you’ texts and notes to loved ones, coworkers, and whoever pops in my mind. Letting someone know you are thinking of him/her (and that you are available to listen or talk) can really brighten everyone’s day!” The big-picture goal for the day is just to spread kindness, love and cheer to someone else! This does not necessarily require a lot of time, creativity, money or even effort on your part… Sometimes the nicest gestures are the small ones that come right from the heart. Be a part of the love & kindness wave and see how good it makes you and the receivers feel! Here are some ideas to inspire you all to spread kindness and joy throughout the 'Random Acts of Kindness Day' (and every day!): 🌱 Mow your neighbor’s lawn or shovel their driveway 💚 Leave packaged snacks or treats (or a nice note!) for your mail carrier & delivery drivers 🥰 Spread the word about a small business or self-employed person you know - People who work for themselves need word of mouth referrals more than anyone else 🌱 Offer to get groceries for your friend, neighbor, or relative who has a hard time doing so 💚 Make a donation 🥰 Print a photo that brings back good memories and frame it for a friend or family member 🌱 Notice a kid being well-behaved? Tell his/her parents how good they are while the child is standing there. It will encourage the child to continue behaving well, and will make the parents feel good. 💚 Fill up the gas tank and/or wash the car for your partner and then leave a friendly note on the dashboard for him/her to find. 🥰 Bring treats (or healthy snacks) to work to share with coworkers 🌱 Spread positivity & leave nice comments on blogs and social media posts 💚 Do the task or chore that no one else wants to do (at work or at home) 🥰 Be empathetic – Really try to put yourself in the other person’s shoes 🌱 Be thoughtful – Did your co-worker have a bad day today? Bring him/her a coffee tomorrow morning! 💚 Be encouraging 🥰 Lend a favorite or inspirational book to someone 🌱 Compliment people on their home or garden 💚 Volunteer for a day at a charity 🥰 Pay for the coffee, the toll, or the bus fare for the person behind you 🌱 Let the person who seems rushed cut in front of you 💚 Help a stressed parent you know by offering to babysit 🥰 Put some coins in an expired meter 🌱 Give up your seat on public transport 💚 Hug someone…like, a super awesome bear hug! 🥰 Pay a compliment to every person you come in contact with (or as many as you can!) 🌱Smile at a stranger 💚 Cook a meal for someone 🥰 Bring flowers, a bunch of lavender/eucalyptus, a new plant, or a nice smelling candle to a friend or family member 🌱 Donate clothes, toys, gadgets, etc 💚 Give a 5 minute hand or shoulder massage to someone We hope we’ve motivated you to spread some love through various random acts of kindness today (and every day)! There is no limit on the amount of goodness we can put into the world, so keep paying it forward & spreading the love! 💚 We’d love to hear about what nice things you do for others or what others have done for you! 😊️ Please share your experiences in the comments below!
