Apr 25, 2011

100+ Small (But Meaningful) Ways to Change the World

  • Smile from your heart at strangers.
  • Bring your shopping cart (& maybe a couple others) back to the coral
  • Bring coffee/donuts to someone usually overlooked
  • Buy flowers for someone who’s sad or having a rough time.
  • Deliberately choose to shop at small “Mom & Pops” stores instead of a giant multi-national corporations.
  • Offer to babysit for new parents so they can sleep or spend time with each other.
  • Listen with complete attention and sincerity.  Be fully present while someone else is speaking.
  • Return lost belongings to their owner.
 
  •  Cook a meal or buy groceries for someone elderly in your neighborhood.
  • Leave a good book at a bus stop.
  • Chat with a sales-clerk. Look them in the eyes, say hello, treat them like a real person.
  • Adopt an animal from a shelter.
  • Host an international student.
  • Just ask if you can help!
  • If you’re a student bring extra pens/paper to class in case your peers need them.
  • Buy organic food.
  • Create  carepacks for the homeless with toiletries, snacks, gloves, socks, calling cards & seal in a waterproof container.
  • Turn off the lights when you’re not in the room.
  • Leave an extravagant tip.
  • But dessert for the table next to you.
  • Help restore a hiking trail.
  • Stop to help someone change their tire.
  • Be kind to someone you dislike.
  • Cook a meal for someone who is sick, elderly, or just had a baby.
  • Pay someone’s expired parking meter.
  • Weed a flower bed.
  • Wave someone into your lane – allow them to merge.
  • Introduce yourself, and eat lunch with someone who’s alone.
  • Tutor or donate books to someone in jail.
  • Say something nice about someone to someone else! Spread the love!
  • Bring your own canvas shopping bags to the grocery store, and travel mug to the coffee shop.
  • Let someone go in front of you in line while you’re doing your grocery shopping.
  • If someone provides great service, compliment them and tell their manager.
  • Let people know every time you feel appreciation for them.
  • Plant a tree
  • Make someone laugh.
  • Teach an someone how to use the internet.
  • Don’t squish that bug!
  • Send a care package – just because to someone unexpected.
  • Make a bird feeder, or a birdbath.
  • Leave the coupons you didn’t use at the register for someone else.
  • Pay someone’s toll
  • Help your teacher by being a good listener, attentive & interactive in class.
  • Call an elderly relative just to say hello.
  • Unexpectedly pick up someone’s check.
  • Pass over the best parking space for someone else.Use non-toxic cleaning supplies.
  • Help someone to get something that is out of their reach.
  • Visit or call someone lonely.
  • Start a “Random Acts of Kindness” club
  • Volunteer to care care for someone’s pet or take their dog on a walk.
  • Stop to make sure that everyone is alright at the scene of an accident.
  • Donate books to a library.
  • Ask someone, “How are you?” and REALLY mean it.
  • Write a thank you letter to someone to a police person or fireman.
  • Make eye contact with a homeless person.  Stop and talk with them. Ask their name. Buy them dinner. Eat with them.
  • Volunteer to tutor a student.
  • Create a community potluck dinner to promote a sense of community and goodwill in your neighborhood.
  • Offer the handyman/porter a cool, refreshing drink.
  • Offer to help a neighbor with their yardwork.
  • Choose to give the benefit of the doubt instead of assuming the worst.  Trust & have faith.
  • Give up your seat for someone
  • Offer to help your coworker with their work.
  • Write to a role-model or mentor and let them know how important they’ve been to you and why.
  • Ask someone about their culture & past.
  • Volunteer
  • Answer calls/emails promptly to communicate that you care.
  • Cook a healthy meal for someone.
  • Adopt a solider
  • Collect canned foods for a food-bank.
  • Help a friend/neighbor/coworker/acquaintance/stranger move.
  • Apologize
  • Choose to not to complain.
  • Hand out treats to folks stuck in a super long line who aren’t able get out.
  • Hold your tongue when you are anger
  • Call an old friend or relative
  • Tell a joke!
  • Eat locally – shop at a Farmer’s Market.
  • Choose to re-frame a stressful situation into something positive.
  • Write a thank you letter
  • Invite folks home for the holidays.
  • Be a peacemaker.  Help to resolve conflict.  Mediate.
  • Leave change in a vending machine as an unexpected delight for the next person.
  • Carpool – offer to give someone a ride
  • Do what you say you’re going to do, and be where you say you’re going to be on time.  Follow through with promises.
  • Say hello to a complete stranger
  • Leave a few quarters behind at the laundry mat for the next person with a note that says, “just because”.
  • Help clean your friends house.
  • Visit a nursing home and mingle.
  • Mentor a child or teen.
  • Donate your vacation days to a coworker who is seriously ill.
  • Send flowers to someone just because
  • Laugh freely & easily.
  • Leave something beautiful in an unsuspecting person, at an unexpected place for no particular reason.
  • Recycle at home. Start & facilitate a recycling program at work or at school.
  • Instead of stepping over litter, pick it up.
  • Create a “Welcome Wagon” committee to welcome new folks who move into your neighborhood.
  • Bake someone a cake.
  • Write a positive tweet, Facebook status or bl ogpost.
  • Make a wish come true.
  • Adopt a highway
  • Plant some flower bulbs in a public space to make it a more beautiful place for everyone.
  • Offer hugs and touches.
  • Donate clothing & shoes  that you’re no longer wearing.  Donate clothing that you love!
  • Wear a t’shirt or button with a positive, uplifting, or funny message.
  • Pay compliments to strangers
  • Offer to guide a person who is blind.
 

What did I leave out?  
Thanks for your reading, and please leave your suggestions!
 
xoxo,
annie
@hamsasya

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