Commit a Random Act of Kindness: A Simple Phrase That Can Change the World
Introduction
1001 Books to Read Before You Die List
audio clip
Commit Random Act of Kindness
Commit a Random Act of Kindness: A Simple Phrase That Can Change the World
Introduction
1001 Books to Read Before You Die List
Commit Random Act of Kindness
Commit a Random Act of Kindness: A Simple Phrase That Can Change the World
Introduction
1001 Books to Read Before You Die List
The other day, while on a trip to Jeongju, Korea, with my wife, we encountered an elderly German tourist who had gotten lost from her tour group and was rejoining them in Jeongju. We helped her get on the right train and got her a taxi to her hotel. It felt good doing a good deed and commit a random act of kindness. I thought about my Boy Scout upbringing and the scout motto of doing a good deed every day, and the phrase Commit a random act of kindness.
There’s a phrase that has quietly traveled through decades, inspiring countless hearts:
“Commit a random act of kindness.”
It sounds simple, almost whimsical—yet its roots and cultural impact are profound. Coined by writer Anne Herbert in the early 1980s, this phrase was her antidote to the negativity of “random acts of violence.” She scribbled it on a placemat in Sausalito, California:
“Practice random acts of kindness and senseless acts of beauty.”
From that moment, the idea blossomed into a global movement. Today, it’s celebrated through Random Acts of Kindness Day, nonprofit initiatives, and everyday gestures that ripple through communities. [berkeleywe…lbeing.com], [betterup.com], [readpoetry.com]
Why It Resonates
In a world often dominated by headlines of conflict and division, this phrase offers a radical alternative: spontaneous goodness without expectation of return. It’s not about grand gestures—it’s about the small, unplanned moments that remind us of our shared humanity.
- Paying for someone’s coffee.
- Leaving a kind note for a stranger.
- Helping a tourist find their way.
These acts may seem small, but research shows they boost happiness, reduce stress, and strengthen social bonds. Kindness is contagious—it sparks a chain reaction that can transform communities. [berkeleywe…lbeing.com], [betterup.com]
Cultural Impact
The phrase has appeared in books, blogs, and even pop culture. It inspired the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation, school programs, and social media challenges like #RAKDay. Celebrities, educators, and everyday people have embraced it as a mantra for living with empathy. [bloggers.f…edspot.com], [timeforkin…ness.co.uk]
Personal Reflection
Why do I love this phrase? Because it’s actionable. It doesn’t require wealth, status, or planning—just a willingness to notice and respond. It reminds me that kindness is not a luxury; it’s a choice we can make every day.
Poetic Rendering: “The Ripple of One”
One smile, unasked, can light a street,
A door held open—kindness complete.
A coin for coffee, a note that says “stay,”
Small acts bloom in the cracks of gray.
No banners wave, no trumpets sound,
Yet hearts are lifted all around.
Commit, not for glory, nor for applause,
But for the quiet joy that kindness draws.
10 Simple Ways to Brighten Someone’s Day:
- Pay for the next person’s coffee or meal.
- Leave a handwritten note of encouragement in a public place.
- Compliment a stranger sincerely.
- Donate gently used clothes to a local shelter.
- Offer to help someone carry heavy bags.
- Send an unexpected “thank you” message to a colleague or friend.
- Leave coins at a vending machine for the next person.
- Share an uplifting book with someone who needs it.
- Plant a tree or flowers in a community space.
- Smile and greet people warmly—it costs nothing but means everything.
let’s all go out today and make the world a better place by committing one simple random act of kindness paying it forward around the world! Do not give into hate, despair and fear. Fight the power! Spread the word my friends, keep the faith and keep hope alive. We can make this world a better place, so go forth and make it happen.
Medium
Substack
Spotify
Wattpad
The other day, while on a trip to Jeongju, Korea, with my wife, we encountered an elderly German tourist who had gotten lost from her tour group and was rejoining them in Jeongju. We helped her get on the right train and got her a taxi to her hotel. It felt good doing a good deed and commit a random act of kindness. I thought about my Boy Scout upbringing and the scout motto of doing a good deed every day, and the phrase “Commit a Random Act of Kindness.”
There’s a phrase that has quietly traveled through decades, inspiring countless hearts:
“Commit a random act of kindness.”
It sounds simple, almost whimsical—yet its roots and cultural impact are profound. Coined by writer Anne Herbert in the early 1980s, this phrase was her antidote to the negativity of “random acts of violence.” She scribbled it on a placemat in Sausalito, California:
“Practice random acts of kindness and senseless acts of beauty.”
From that moment, the idea blossomed into a global movement. Today, it’s celebrated through Random Acts of Kindness Day, nonprofit initiatives, and everyday gestures that ripple through communities. [berkeleywe…lbeing.com], [betterup.com], [readpoetry.com]
Why It Resonates
In a world often dominated by headlines of conflict and division, this phrase offers a radical alternative: spontaneous goodness without expectation of return. It’s not about grand gestures—it’s about the small, unplanned moments that remind us of our shared humanity.
- Paying for someone’s coffee.
- Leaving a kind note for a stranger.
- Helping a tourist find their way.
These acts may seem small, but research shows they boost happiness, reduce stress, and strengthen social bonds. Kindness is contagious—it sparks a chain reaction that can transform communities. [berkeleywe…lbeing.com], [betterup.com]
Cultural Impact
The phrase has appeared in books, blogs, and even pop culture. It inspired the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation, school programs, and social media challenges like #RAKDay. Celebrities, educators, and everyday people have embraced it as a mantra for living with empathy. [bloggers.f…edspot.com], [timeforkin…ness.co.uk]
Personal Reflection
Why do I love this phrase? Because it’s actionable. It doesn’t require wealth, status, or planning—just a willingness to notice and respond. It reminds me that kindness is not a luxury; it’s a choice we can make every day.
Poetic Rendering: “The Ripple of One”
One smile, unasked, can light a street,
A door held open—kindness complete.
A coin for coffee, a note that says “stay,”
Small acts bloom in the cracks of gray.
No banners wave, no trumpets sound,
Yet hearts are lifted all around.
Commit, not for glory, nor for applause,
But for the quiet joy that kindness draws.
10 Simple Ways to Brighten Someone’s Day:
- Pay for the next person’s coffee or meal.
- Leave a handwritten note of encouragement in a public place.
- Compliment a stranger sincerely.
- Donate gently used clothes to a local shelter.
- Offer to help someone carry heavy bags.
- Send an unexpected “thank you” message to a colleague or friend.
- Leave coins at a vending machine for the next person.
- Share an uplifting book with someone who needs it.
- Plant a tree or flowers in a community space.
- Smile and greet people warmly—it costs nothing but means everything.
let’s all go out today and make the world a better place by committing one simple random act of kindness paying it forward around the world! Do not give into hate, despair and fear. Fight the power! Spread the word my friends, keep the faith and keep hope alive. We can make this world a better place, so go forth and make it happen.
Medium
Substack
Spotify
Wattpad
The other day, while on a trip to Jeongju, Korea, with my wife, we encountered an elderly German tourist who had gotten lost from her tour group and was rejoining them in Jeongju. We helped her get on the right train and got her a taxi to her hotel. It felt good doing a good deed and commit a random act of kindness. I thought about my Boy Scout upbringing and the scout motto of doing a good deed every day, and the phrase “Commit a Random Act of Kindness.”
There’s a phrase that has quietly traveled through decades, inspiring countless hearts:
“Commit a random act of kindness.”
It sounds simple, almost whimsical—yet its roots and cultural impact are profound. Coined by writer Anne Herbert in the early 1980s, this phrase was her antidote to the negativity of “random acts of violence.” She scribbled it on a placemat in Sausalito, California:
“Practice random acts of kindness and senseless acts of beauty.”
From that moment, the idea blossomed into a global movement. Today, it’s celebrated through Random Acts of Kindness Day, nonprofit initiatives, and everyday gestures that ripple through communities. [berkeleywe…lbeing.com], [betterup.com], [readpoetry.com]
Why It Resonates
In a world often dominated by headlines of conflict and division, this phrase offers a radical alternative: spontaneous goodness without expectation of return. It’s not about grand gestures—it’s about the small, unplanned moments that remind us of our shared humanity.
- Paying for someone’s coffee.
- Leaving a kind note for a stranger.
- Helping a tourist find their way.
These acts may seem small, but research shows they boost happiness, reduce stress, and strengthen social bonds. Kindness is contagious—it sparks a chain reaction that can transform communities. [berkeleywe…lbeing.com], [betterup.com]
Cultural Impact
The phrase has appeared in books, blogs, and even pop culture. It inspired the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation, school programs, and social media challenges like #RAKDay. Celebrities, educators, and everyday people have embraced it as a mantra for living with empathy. [bloggers.f…edspot.com], [timeforkin…ness.co.uk]
Personal Reflection
Why do I love this phrase? Because it’s actionable. It doesn’t require wealth, status, or planning—just a willingness to notice and respond. It reminds me that kindness is not a luxury; it’s a choice we can make every day.
Poetic Rendering: “The Ripple of One”
One smile, unasked, can light a street,
A door held open—kindness complete.
A coin for coffee, a note that says “stay,”
Small acts bloom in the cracks of gray.
No banners wave, no trumpets sound,
Yet hearts are lifted all around.
Commit, not for glory, nor for applause,
But for the quiet joy that kindness draws.
10 Simple Ways to Brighten Someone’s Day:
- Pay for the next person’s coffee or meal.
- Leave a handwritten note of encouragement in a public place.
- Compliment a stranger sincerely.
- Donate gently used clothes to a local shelter.
- Offer to help someone carry heavy bags.
- Send an unexpected “thank you” message to a colleague or friend.
- Leave coins at a vending machine for the next person.
- Share an uplifting book with someone who needs it.
- Plant a tree or flowers in a community space.
- Smile and greet people warmly—it costs nothing but means everything.
let’s all go out today and make the world a better place by committing one simple random act of kindness paying it forward around the world! Do not give into hate, despair and fear. Fight the power! Spread the word my friends, keep the faith and keep hope alive. We can make this world a better place, so go forth and make it happen.
Medium
Substack
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Spotify
Wattpad
