And what better day to show your commitment to paying it forward than Random Acts of Kindness Day? This unofficial holiday, celebrated on Feb. 17, recognizes people who spread positivity through good deeds and inspire others to follow in their footsteps.
What’s Random Acts of Kindness Day?
According to National Day Calendar, Random Acts of Kindness Day got its start in New Zealand, where it’s celebrated every year on Sept. 1. Elsewhere, this holiday is celebrated on Feb. 17. But no matter when you choose to observe this unofficial holiday, the idea behind Random Acts of Kindness Day is to lift one another’s spirits by performing good deeds that motivate our neighbors to pay it forward.
How to celebrate this unofficial holiday
Simply put, you can celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Day by making a point of doing something nice for someone else on Wednesday. While it couldn’t hurt to do this every day, let’s start with baby steps. So, what can you do? Consider buying a cup of coffee for the person behind you at the drive-through or helping a neighbor with yard work.
Need some inspiration? We’ve compiled a list of inspiration ideas, including: picking up litter at a local park or beach, donating blood or plasma, donating your unwanted clothes to a local shelter, volunteering your time for a local nonprofit, sewing face masks for essential workers, or giving a gift or handwritten note to your postal worker.