Reddit user u/tacobouteat recently asked, "What’s a small act of kindness that literally anyone can do every day?" and the answers are equally heartwarming and insightful.
You never know what someone else is going through, and it can be overwhelming to figure out how you can help. But sometimes, it's the really small, seemingly insignificant things that can turn someone's day around. So, without further ado, here are the top-voted responses:
1. "I really enjoy letting people with less items go ahead of me at checkout in the grocery store. The look on their face when I signal for them to go before me makes it worth waiting a little longer."
2. "Compliments. If you have a charitable thought about someone, even a stranger, say it out loud to their face. It's free, it's easy, and it might be the best thing that has happened to that person all week. It doesn't cost you anything, and it means the world to the people you are talking to."
"A while ago, I was at the checkout of a large store with my two toddlers (would have been around 2 and 4 then) who were tired and just doing the challenging toddler thing. I was doing everything I could to keep the chaos restrained, and I was exhausted.
A random shopper who passed me and said as she went by, 'Well done for staying so calm. I would have lost it by now. You’re doing great.' I nearly cried, it was exceptional to have a stranger acknowledge how hard it is and to make me feel like I’m not the shitty parent that most of the time I feel like I am. So, say nice things, not because you have to, but because you can. You never know the difference it might make to someone."
3. "I keep some mini or 'fun-size' candy bars and such in my desk at work. Every once in a while, I'll open the drawer when someone is in my office and just say, 'Do you want one?' You'd be surprised how delighted just about anyone can be by a tiny little chocolate bar, whether it's a student coming in for office hours or the provost there to discuss a grant."
4. "If you truly shop locally and don't just say you do, leave those businesses reviews on Google. It actually helps their SEO and encourages Google to expose their business to more customers."
5. "Keep a bowl of water out on your balcony or in open space like a backyard for birds and other small creatures."
6. "Helping someone out with a little bit of cash. A woman covered the difference of my groceries once. I was something like $5 short and was staring at my pile of groceries, trying to figure out what to leave behind. She stepped up and said she'd pay the difference and wished me a happy holiday. I'll remember that moment forever."
7. "Leave out cold water bottles on hot days for delivery drivers or garbage collectors."
8. "Patience. You never know what someone else is going through. Could be a breakup, their dog just died, or maybe, their granny finally made it to heaven. You never know, so be patient. After all, wouldn't you want someone to be patient with you?"
10. "Thank your spouse/housemates/parents/kids for taking care of things around the house or running errands, etc. It doesn’t have to be over the top, but everyone feels better about doing chores when it is noticed and appreciated. 'Thanks for folding my laundry' or 'thanks for always keeping track of our bills; you’re awesome at managing money' goes a long way."
11. "Not an act of kindness, but you should be aware of your surroundings, and don't block entrances/exists/hallways/etc."
12. "Leave the places you visit just a little bit nicer than when you found it. Pick up a piece of litter at the park. Smooth out that rug with a corner with a little tug to get it lay flat again. Let an employee know when you spot a leaky dairy product on the shelves so they can deal with it. Return someone else's grocery cart."
And finally...
13. "Acknowledge the invisible people. I travel every week for work. In every airport I am in, there is a person who cleans the restroom. They go about their work never making eye contact with anyone else. I make it a point to say hello and thank them for keeping the restroom clean. It’s easy to not say anything. Say something anyway. Acknowledge the invisible people."
Now, it's your turn! What's a small act of kindness you can do to help someone? Comment below!
Note: Some submissions have been edited for length and/or clarity.