How Many People Can Be Touched By Investing $111 Into Humanity Through Random Acts Of Kindness?
I became very inspired to spend an entire day solely performing random acts of kindness. I had recently quite my job, so it wasn't exactly the ideal time to give $111 away. I honestly just felt strongly led to do this. I didn't really care about the cost, I wanted to experience it. I felt a great deal of excitement as I considered what I could do with the $111 to affect the most people in a positive and fun way. Why $111? I just really like that number so that is why I picked that dollar amount to invest into this project. I was so inspired that I went above the $111 in a couple of other ways. Since I was in the mode of giving, why not take it as far as I possibly could? I decided on nine different acts of kindness I wanted to do. How many people did I touch?
FLOWERS - Kindness Act #1
I live an apartment building with thin walls and I often hear my neighbors fighting. I have never met, nor have I ever seen my neighbors. Every time they fight I hear the woman crying. I never hear any sort of abuse taking place, just normal day-to-day fighting with the spouse. I know they are married and I know he cheats. I only know this information because I can hear their fights word-for-word sometimes. I decided to buy her a bouquet of flowers and put them in front of her door with a nice note. I truly hoped the flowers would make her smile.
I decided not to just stop with my weeping neighbor, I also purchased three more bouquets of flowers. I sent one to my daughter's school for the amazing guidance counselor there. She's truly a diamond. The flowers and nice note made her week she said. I randomly left a bouquet on a car at the library, and on a car in the shopping center parking lot. I attached a note that read, "You've been touched by a random act of kindness. I hope these flowers made you smile. Have a beautiful day." How the recipients reacted I will never know. I felt nervous leaving the flowers on the door step of my neighbor and on the cars of random people. I didn't want to be caught. It was a lot of fun giving flowers. I imagined how I'd feel being on the receiving end of something like that. Each bouquet cost $5, so $20 of my $111 was spent on flowers for four people.
UNEXPECTED CARDS WITH MONEY - Kindness Act #2
My next task was to send out three greeting cards with a small amount of money in them. Since I was working with an $111 budget I had to keep the amounts small. I think that made it better in a way. The cards generically said "I thought of you today." I wrote a small message about hoping the card and money would make them smile. I sent a card to my mom, sister and my 21 year old daughter. They live in a different state than I do, so it seemed fitting to send each of them a card. I put $10 in my daughter's card, and I put $5 in my mother's card and in my sister's card.
My sister was the first to receive her card. She sent me a text message with a smily face. She sent another text that said it made her day as money has been a tight lately. My daughter received her card next and sent a happy text message as well. My mom never said anything after she received her card, but I have come to expect a less than gracious attitutde from her. I tried. That's all that really matters, right?
After the stamps, cards and small monetary gifts, $25 of my budget was spent on three people. Between the flowers and the cards $45 of my $111 is used. So far, this accounts for seven people I have directly touched through a random act of kindness. It's really a lot of fun just knowing how small things can bring such big joys to others. It's very beautiful. I began to feel gratitude about even having the idea to spend an entire day performing random acts of kindness. It felt so good doing it that I felt blessed. I hope all those touched my random acts of kindess felt as delighted receiving the gift as I felt giving it.
CREATE A 'GIVING CHAIN' - Kindness Act #3
I love creating a 'Giving Chain' in fast food/starbucks drive thrus. I couldn't leave this off of my list of Random Acts of Kindness. I decided to hit up a popular fast food restaurant during the breakfast rush. I pulled into the drive thru and placed my order. At the cashier window I told the clerk I wanted to also pay for the order of the car behind me. He was young, but was touched by my sentiment. He smiled at me brightly and told me to have a beautiful day.
As I headed to the pick-up window I wondered how the person in the car behind me would react to my act of kindness. Would he/she think it was a lucky day and graciously accept the free breakfast? Or, would he/she not only think it's a lucky day, but also feel inspired to immediately pay the kindness forward? I've read stories where the Giving Chain can go on for ten cars or more. Often the Giving Chain ends because the last person is served before a new person has arrived and placed their order. Isn't that awesome?
I had to completely loop around the restaurant to exit the parking lot. As I was turning onto the main road, I noticed the car that was behind me was still at the cashier window. That answers my question - that person immediately paid the kindness forward. How many people participated that morning? I wish I knew. I can tally eight people on my list now, but it's obvious a lot more than eight people have been touched by a few random acts of kindness. Who knows what the flower recipients may have done to pay the kindness they received forward? Who knows how many people participated in the Giving Chain in the drive thru? The cost of the person's meal behind me was only $5. I'm now at $50 into my $111 budget. I'm feeling pretty good!
MONEY-LOTTERY BAGS - Kindness Act #4
I love the Lottery so I wanted to incorporate that into my list of kind acts as well. I purchased ten $1 scratch tickets. I also took $20 and had it broken down into four $5s. I got four snack-sized Zip Lock baggies from my kitchen drawer. I placed two $1 scratch tickets into each baggy, along with $5 and a penny. I added the penny to be used as a tool for the scratch tickets. I also placed a note inside explaining I created the money-lottery bag as a random act of kindness. Who wouldn't be excited to find something like that?
I always give big tips to waitresses, bartenders, hair stylists, etc. I believe in recognizing and giving back to the service workers of the world. They are what make this world run. Since I cannot tip the mailman, I decided I'd put one of my money-lottery bags into the outgoing mail slot for him. I hoped he'd find it on a day when he needed a sign that he mattered, or maybe he'd feel like finding the money-lottery bag was his own good karma coming full circle. I wanted him to feel really good.
I gave the second money-lottery bag to a clerk at a clothing store. As she was totaling and bagging my items we chatted. She was really friendly and kind. It was such lovely conversation, and I enjoyed her energy so much that I felt led to give her one of my money-lottery bags. After she was finished with my transaction I handed her the money-lottery bag. I told her that I believed in recognizing good customer service and I hoped that she'd win on the scratch tickets.
She didn't know what she was looking at initially. It took a couple of seconds for her to realize what I'd handed her. Once she understood she thanked me profusely. It really touched her. I sure hope one of her tickets was a winner. Though it was small, I'm positive she'll remember my thoughtfulness and kindness. I hope my act inspires her to pay the kindness forward to someone else.
The last two money-lottery bags I wanted to leave in random places for a stranger to find. The first one I left slightly hidden behind the air machine at a gas station. It wasn't obvious, but it wasn't totally out of sight either. I left the other in my parking spot as I was pulling out of it, at a grocery store. As I was pulling away I could see the money-lottery bag, but there was no way I could tell what it was exactly. I felt truly excited for strangers to find these money-lottery bags. I know how'd I feel finding something like that.
I only used eight scratch tickets in my money-lottery bags. I gave the remaining two to a friend. I said he could scratch them or give them to someone else. I spent $10 on the scratch tickets and $20 on the money I put into each bag. That puts me at $80 of my $111 budget and a total of thirteen people touched. Thankfully my next few ideas have a much wider reach. I think the money-lottery bag idea was my favorite.
21 SINGLE DOLLAR BILLS - Kindness Act #6
I decided to take twenty-one single dollar bills and attach a nice note on each dollar. My intention was to put the dollars in books and others areas in a store. I also wrote a nice message on each dollar itself as well. The messages said things like "You're Amazing" or "Believe in your Dreams". The note I attached was explaining I'd intentionally left the dollar to be found as a random act of kindness and I hoped it would make whoever found it smile.
My first stop was a local library. I went over to the self-help section and started placing dollar bills into various books. I looked at the chapter titles inside of each book I selected. If there was a chapter about money, or manifesting money or abundance, I placed the dollar bill at the start of that chapter. If there was no corresponding chapter title, I placed the dollar on page 111. I also placed Post-it notes inside several other books. I will discuss that more in a bit. I will also touch on a few ideas of kindness that do not cost money to do.
My second stop was a book store. I headed over to the New Age section. I repeated the same process with these books as I did at the library. I also put dollars inside of journals that had words like "Believe" or "Dream" written on the front of them. I even put a dollar inside of a trinket box that was also for sale. By the time I was finished at the book store, I only had $6 left. I decided to put those in various spots at the grocery store.
My third stop for the dollars was my local grocery store. I was actually feeling tired at this point, from having to be so cautious and aware of myself during this whole process. I didn't want anyone to catch me putting dollars inside of books or hiding them in various spots throughout the grocery store. I actually put a dollar in a greeting card about love at the grocery store. I left one in the parking lot as well. I left the other four in random spots throughout the store. I'm positive all the dollars left at the grocery store have been found by now.
This was another act of kindness that really excited me. Imagine buying a book to help you better manifest abundance. When you open to the chapter that specifically talks about money there is already money manifested right there! Not only would you smile, but it would feel quite inspiring and magical. I really liked the idea of leaving dollars in books, so that is why I gifted the majority of my twenty-one single dollars bills in this fashion.
After I finished gifting all of the dollar bills away, my total is at $101 of my $111 budget. I have also directly touched thirty-four people through my random acts of kindness. I'm feeling pretty amazing by this point. It was a lot of fun being a secret ninja of kindness. I still have $10 to spend to complete my mission. I wasn't sure how I was going to spend the last $10. As I was making my money-lottery bags, it came to me.
FOUND CHANGE - Kindness Act #7
While I was making my money-lottery bags, a jar of loose change I have caught my eye. The change in this jar contains change I've found on the ground over the last two years. There was a time in my life where I'd occasionally find change on the ground, but as I set my intention and focus to finding loose change, I started finding it everywhere. I cannot go anywhere to this day without finding a minimum of a penny on the ground.
By the time I decided to do this project, my daughters had helped themselves to the majority of the silver change in my jar. They used it as their personal vending machine ATM fund. All that remained were pennies and nickles. I'm positive there was more than $10 in change, but I didn't count it. As long as it was at least $10 I could complete my mission. I put the change into a sandwich-sized Zip Lock baggie along with a note about how I'd come into the change, and that I was now paying it forward.
I left the baggie of change in the parking lot of the book store. I left it in my parking spot as I was pulling out. It was easy to see. Because of this project, I've been inspired to start carrying a wallet that is only for the change I found on the ground, including single dollar bills. I will collect money as I randomly find it on the ground and store in that special wallet. Each week, I will add my own money in equal proportion to the money I have found. I will continue this process until I encounter a stranger that is indicating a need for money. A few pennies here and there each day truly add up to a nice bit of money after two years. I was delighted to pay all of that money forward.
I've reached my $111 budget and I have touched a total of thirty-five people directly. I was so elevated by this experience, I decided to also incorporate random acts of kindness that do not cost any money. I did this because I want to express that while money is a lot of fun, there are a lot of free things you can do to bring a smile to someone's face. Because I added these free acts into my day, I was able to touch even more people directly, through kindness. The monetary portion of my mission is complete, but I wanted to add a little bit more magic to my day.
POST-IT NOTES - Kindness Act #8
Since I had a limited amount of money I could put inside of the books at the library and the bookstore, I had to come up with another idea to expand on the act. I spent about two hours writing messages on 80 Post-its. Though some messages I did repeat, I tried to think of as many short, but sweet things as I could.. I also signed each Post-it as, The Universe. I did that in an effort for the recipient to be able to relate to the note more personally.
I put the majority of the Post-it notes in self-help books and books about manifesting and the Law of Attraction. I actually saw a book about manifesting luck into your life. My next Post-it literally read "You're Very Lucky". I couldn't believe the synchronicity. I also put a few Post-its in books that college students would be purchasing. Those Post-it notes had messages like "You're doing Great!" or "Keep up the Great Work!" I really tried to match the Post-It message to a book that was similar in its contents. I put about 50 Post-it notes in various books between the library and the book store.
I put the other Post-it notes in other locations like public bathrooms, gas station pumps, spots in the grocery store and various places throughout my apartment complex. 80 Post-it notes of Love were put in random places just to make others smile. The Post-It idea is pretty much free and really only requires a commitment of some time and a little creativity. I'd love to do this again and have a friend join me as a secret ninja of kindness.
DONATING - Kindness Act #9
I went through all of my worldly possessions about six months ago and dontated what I no longer needed. I did that when I was getting ready to move into my new apartment. Since donating is free, and is in alignment to being kind I decided to comb through my closet again. I wasn't sure I'd have too much to donate since I'd gone through everything six months prior. I decided to force myeslf to get rid of anything I had not worn at least one time in the last year. This was not easy.
I had a $150 suit that I had never worn, and it still had the tags attached. It was a lovely suit, but the chances were I wouldn't even wear it once. I had purchased it about a year prior for a job interview. I purchased a few interview outfits and just never used the suit during my interviewing process. I decided to donate it. I also decided to donate a lot of my shoes. I absolutely love shoes and it's not easy to part with any pair of shoes I own. But, I had some shoes I hadn't worn in at least two years. What's the point in keeping a pair of shoes I never wear?
I donate all of my items to the Goodwill. There are several charities that take clothing, toy and furniture donations for mothers and children. If you want your items to directly go to someone for free look those organizations up for your area. The Goodwill and other thrift stores obviously charge others for the items you donate. They use the money earned towards other good causes. It's really up to you how you donate the items you no longer need. Also look into places that will take your old clothing and Tshirts that are not resaleable. They can often turn your old and worn clothes into rags, which are sold to various shops throughout the country.
I really trimmed my closet down in every way. By the end, my daughter and I had six trash bags full of clothes, along with a basket full of shoes and clothes. I couldn't believe how many items I never use or wear. Though I didn't want to part with some of my items, I forced myself to. If it's not a seasonal or special occasion item, there is no reason why I shouldn't wear it at least once over the course of a year. My closet felt all zen and balanced after I thoroughly scowered it of everything that needed to be donated. Donating your items is a random act of kindness. You are giving from the abundance you have aquired. Your trash is truly someone else's treasure. Never take that for granted. Donating your items is a great way to pay kindness foward. You can also donate your time to local charities as well.
RESULTS
As I mentioned at the beginning, a number of things inspired me to spend an entire day paying kindness forward in a variety of ways. My life may not always reflect everything I'd like it to, but I am blessed. I have more than I need and I am healthy. I am loved and I love. The eyes of my heart are open and I see beauty everywhere. Honestly, I had more fun doing these random acts of kindness than I've had in a long time. It really made me feel warm and fuzzy inside. It literally took an entire day from start to finish.
For $111 I was able to directly affect 35 people in a positive and fun way. If you count the Post-it notes, I touched 115 people directly. It's too hard to measure the donation of my items, but I know that counts in the mix of all of this somehow. Just by one thought of wanting to spend a day paying kindness forward, I was able to create all of this. If I directly touched 115 different people, how many others do you think were touched or inspired by my acts of kindness being express by the recipients? More to the point, how many acts of kindness did the recipients pay forward? The total number is not measurable.
Though I invested some of my own money into this, I want to stress that you do not need money to be kind. Leaving Post-it notes with beautiful and inspiring messages for people is free. Donating items you no longer need, or donating your time to help someone else is also free. Walk your neighbors dog. Offer to babysit for a single mother. If you are academically gifted, tutor an at risk youth. Consider creating a community garden with your neighbors to donate 50% of the harvest to charity. There are endless things you can do to give kindness to others.
Also consider how kind you can be on a daily basis. I always hold doors for people; I always let people into traffic; I always say 'thank you' and 'have a good day' to every customer service individual I encounter; I often write inspiring messages on my money that I use; I tip everyone from my hair stylist, to the pizza delivery person very well. One time my daughter handled the pizza guy. I had paid with my credit card over the phone, and you have to write the tip amount in upon delivery. My daughter did not tip him. I called the store and made sure my card would be charged with his tip included. I was honestly panicked that he was walking away with no tip. It really matters to me.
There are large portions of my life where I had to depend on the kindness of others to survive. I didn't have the easiest or most abundant childhood, so the kindness of others played a huge role in my upbringing. You cannot underestimate the power of kindness and love. The smallest act of kindness can have the biggest ripple effect. Life is truly a beautiful gift. It may not always seem that way, but there is always something to be grateful for. Our gratitude is what allows more abundance into our realities.
When you are giving, allow your entire heart to be involved. Really feel the energy of your act of kindness. Imagine how you would feel receiving your own kindness. Feel grateful that you are able to help others. Aside from helping and inspiring others, you are doing a huge service to yourself. Giving through the heart, with a pure and genuine intention is the most beautiful form of love there is. It is gentle, nurturing, supporting and unconditional. Kindness is beautiful. Kindness returns ten-fold.
Because of how fun this experience was, I intend to dedicate at least one day every month to performing random acts of kindness. This goes above and beyond what I normally do every day for other people. I want to come up with different ideas every time. There is no end to what I believe I can do. Everything we do eventually returns to us. I want a kinder, softer world, so it's up to me to be that kinder, softer person first. If you are feeling down or depressed, spend a day performing random acts of kindness. I promise you, by the end, you'll be overflowing with joy.
I decided to write about my experience to inspire others to spend an entire day performing random acts of kindness. The reach of my acts of kindness doesn't stop at those directly affected, or those affected second or third-hand. Those who have read this are also touched. Even if only one person decides to dedicate a day to kindness because of reading this, then the ripple of kindness flows onward. I truly challenge any person reading this to create your own list and spend one day performing random acts of kindness. The joy it will bring you is indescribable.
I hope you are inspired to pay kindness forward. I would love for you to leave your random acts of kindness ideas in the comments. Or, please share any random acts of kindness you've already done. I don't just want people to be inspired by what I did, I'd love for the creativity and kindness of many to be shared here. What inspires one may not inspire another. Varity and creativity is key. What do you do to be randomly kind to others?
Through love, I give
In gratitude, I receive
A perfect circle of abundance is completed within me
~ Seeds of Wisdom ~
