I have more than a million reasons to claim I’m one of the
richest persons alive. I may neither have Oprah’s stash of cash nor a slice of
Warren Buffet’s growing assets but what I have led to my contentment. They’re brimming
and most especially, all mine. These are the blessings of family and meaningful
friendships, the tenacity to overcome obstacles and the satiety to be provided
with more than just enough.
Because my cup is overflowing, I feel the need to give back.
I am restless to share what little I have to make this world a better place. If
philanthropy distinctly means humanity, kindness and compassion among others, then
allow me to use this noun in this prose. In other words, nobody needs to be a
millionaire to be philanthropist. Anybody can give love at at anytime.
I met a friend whom I have considered to be my soul sister
since many a times we share the same thoughts about frugal living, the love of
reading and journey of faith to our loving God. On one of our engaging
conversations, we touched base on making a difference and spreading random act
of kindness. Then it dawned on us since we’ll be celebrating our 40th
birthday on the same year, which is next year, why don’t we spread 40 Random
Act of Kindness instead of spending money on things that do not matter?
with Yen, my friend who's beautiful inside and out |
I’m excited to share these 40 things we both thought of that
could possibly make the world around us a better place because if you happen to
read this blog, we would want you to be inspired to do the same. It might not
be on your 40th birthday. It might not be all of these. It might not be any of these at all. Whatever
it is that you can do to unleash the inner philanthropist in you, will be a
tool to lessening the indifference our world is currently suffering.
20 RAK (Random Act of Kindness that do not cost a dime because
my friend and I are both cheapskatesJ):
1.
Return stray shopping carts outside the grocery
stores especially when it’s freezing.
2.
When shoveling snow at your driveway, consider
doing the neighbors’ as well (maybe our spouses can help us with this J)
3.
Cook for more than your family can eat and call
a friend to share it with.
4.
Visit a friend who needs a cheering up.
5.
Volunteer at the local Food Bank.
6.
Volunteer in School.
7.
Volunteer in Church.
8.
Call or message an old friend.
9.
Write thank you letters to the soldiers who are
fighting for our country.
10.
If you have not gotten the Flu Shot this year,
considering going to King Soopers. They give a free meal to the homeless for
every shot. And the good thing is insurance pays for it.
11.
Give away your favorite books to those who could
use them, instead of gathering dusts.
12.
Have Swagbucks? Donate through it. There’s a lot
of charity to choose from. And the best thing is it’s all free because these
are the points you earned.
13.
Spend the afternoon cleaning your basement and
donate all the things you don’t need to Goodwill or Salavation Army.
14.
Write a deep and sincere letter of appreciation
to your kids’ teachers, coaches and therapists.
15.
Nominate a person in your workplace or in your
kids’ school for doing an impeccable job.
16.
Sneak in a positive note like “You are awesome!”
in the books of your local library.
17.
Mow the lawn for your neighbors.
18.
Bring a treat to share with your co-workers (and
your husband’s co-workers).
19.
Bake cookies for firefighters.
20.
Give Blood.
Following are the other 20 RAK
involving CASH. This is where we rock
our frugality. Because we abstained from buying expensive bags, we’re able to
get extra to give away:
21.
Leave the
waiter/waitress who is obsequious a 100% tip and a note of thanks. He or she is
trying to do a great job. But if he or she happens to be rude, leave a 200% tip
and a note saying, “You are more amazing with a smile”. That would hope to
change the course of his or her perception in a positive way.
22.
Pay someone’s meal at a restaurant.
23.
Pay the person behind you at Drive thru.
24.
Adopt-A-Student.
Sponsor a child who can’t afford to go to school. Here’s the link to the
program my husband and I chose http://cfcancop.org/ancop-programs/education/child-sponsorship.
25.
Adopt-A-School. When our family went home to
the Philippines, we asked my mother-in-law since she knows people at the Department
of Education to give us the opportunity to sponsor a feeding for undernourished
kids in school. They have a program called BUSOG LUSOG, “meaning: a full and
satiated tummy leads to strong mind and body.”
26.
Leave quarters at a Laundromat and a note
saying, “Please enjoy this random act of kindness.”
27.
Leave dollar bills at a gas pump and a note
saying, “You are a recipient of this random act of kindness. Use these bills to
buy yourself a coffee or a donut or pay for gas. However you use it, promise me
to spread at least one kindness to somebody you meet today. God bless!”
28.
Attach a couple of dollars to the Redbox DVD you
borrowed and a note saying, “Enjoy a popcorn. It’s on me.”
29.
Insert a $10 bill at a book in your local
library.
30.
Buy a giftcard to a store you shop and hand it
to a person next to you at checkout.
31.
Buy several copies of your favorite book and
give it away to people you think would enjoy it.
32.
When shopping at Amazon, go through www.smile.amazon.com
(Amazon Smile), a website that allows users to pick a charity and donate .5% of every purchase to it.
33.
Buy the list of things needed at your local food
bank.
34.
Pack at least a dozen of blessings bag to be
given to people holding a sign in the street corners. Ideas to put in the bag:
socks, soap, toothpaste, toothbrush, crackers, water bottle, $5 and a note of
encouragement).
35. Purchase warm clothes, blankets and gloves to be given to a homeless shelter. If you don’t know any shelter closest to you, here’s a suggestion www.denverrescuemission.org/donate
36.
Buy flowers to give to your kids’ schools front
desk.
37.
Surprise your kids’ former mentors by buying
them lunch.
38.
Appreciate your kids’ current mentors by buying
them lunch.
39.
Surprise a friend from far away with a care
package to lift her day.
40.
Forgive somebody who owes you. If possible,
write her a letter of encouragement and inspiration.
…
It is heaven sent to have a friend who walks at the same
vision and shares the kind of passion I have. It could be lonely doing all of
these without somebody to report the consequences of the graces. Our spouses
are on board with us of course but it is different having a soul sister.
If it doesn’t move you to do any act of kindness because
nobody around you is with you on this, I challenge you to challenge your
present circle of friendships. Better yet, start a spark of kindness within
that. Trust me, the warmth that it brings if allowed to keep burning will never
be contained. It will spread like wildfire. Imagine how much a negative word
can crush somebody. Let’s turn it around and spread the positive instead. Then a wildfire of positivity will blanket the
earth and that’s how much of your little kindness can impact our world.
If it’s possible, please share your RAK with me in a comment
or a private message so I can be encouraged too that at least a single grace
does happen. I hope you don’t wait for it to happen. I hope by now you are
inspired to unleash the inner philanthropist in you. Best wishes!
With all my love,
Ehma