Be a what? If you are not familiar with the term – I would not be surprised. RAK means Random Act of Kindness (RAK). There is a whole week dedicated to this celebration and this year RAK day - 17 February 2023 falls in the middle of RAK week. It starts on 14 February until 20 February 2023.
Being a RAK-tivist is very easy. It is about being kind or being a positive influence in someone's life. We can all use it and it make us feel good when we are kind.
One random act of kindness can be a life-changer for someone or just simply change someone's day. I can attest to that. I have experienced it many times and know that many people have as well. I try my best to do the same for others.
According to Wikipedia:
A random act of kindness is a non-premeditated, inconsistent action designed to offer kindness towards the outside world.
I believe,
Origin
The phrase "random act of kindness" was first written by Anne Herbert in 1982. She coined the phrase as a response to “random acts of violence and senseless acts of cruelty” with the goal of highlighting and putting an end to violent acts. She wanted to instigate positivity. She published a book called “Random Kindness and Senseless Acts of Beauty” in 1993.
Although it is supposed to be a random act – we can make it intentional. Who knows, if we keep practicing it – soon it will be habitual. Soon the world (or a nice majority of it) could just be a nicer place.
A RAK-tivist does not need to perform large acts or tasks, just something small as long as it is kind, for instance:
1.Saying hello to someone you've often seen before but never greeted.
2.Giving a genuine compliment.
3.Sharing motivating quotes with your colleagues.
4.Sending a note to your partner with a list of things you admire about them.
5.Telling someone you think deserves more recognition - how great you think he/she is.
6.Shovelling snow for someone who is older or incapacitated.
7.Offering to pay for coffee or tea for the person behind you at your local coffee place.
8.Donating unused clothes to a shelter for the homeless.
9.Suprising a neighbor with baked goods or a meal.
10. Giving a lunch/drink/party to celebrate someone for who they are when they least expect it.
11. Leave a nice complementary post-it on someone desk or door.
12. Send a really funny joke to someone – laughter is great medicine.
13. Walk the neighbors dog or babysitting for free.
As we are on the Hive blockchain:
1. Give a 100% upvote to someone you would normally not give it to.
2. Leave a meaningful comment on a blog post you appreciate.
Being kind should not need a special day. However, it is nice to have a day to give specific attention to some special things or people. (e.g. Mother’s day, Christmas etc.) As being kind is more an action than a feeling - we can use this day to perform many kind acts if we choose to. It will certainly increase our happiness quotient thereafter.
On Random Act of Kindness Day - 17 February 2023 I will definitely be celebrating.
Will you join me?
The photo is my own - taken with an iPhone SE 2020 - edited in Picsart.
