a random act of kindness narrative essay

  • Academic Writing / Essay Style / Online Writing Instruction / Teaching

Acts of Kindness: Narrative Writing

by Purdue Global Academic Success Center and Writing Center · Published December 13, 2013 · Updated December 9, 2013

Acts of Kindness

David Werner

December 1, 2013

Floyd, Lloyd, Elwood, Woodrow, and David are not historical figures, except in their native Ithaca, N.Y.; but David was my father the others my Uncles – all part of the generation who saved the world in WWII.

They were all just kids, some underage, when they volunteered for the Army Air Corp. and piloted everything from the B-17 and B-29 to the P-47 and P-51.  They flew more than 25 missions a piece as pilots and co-pilots; which far exceeded the Air Corp. standards.  The mortality rates of pilots jumped after just thirteen missions and it was almost a given that pilots flying more than 25 missions would not return.

In my book they were heroes and, as a kid, I remember hearing some of the stories.  Being a kid I especially liked the ones about them “pissing in their pants” as anti-aircraft fire was going off all around them.  It was funny to them too, since all five survived, but they never glamorized the war or thought of themselves as heroes.  There was a job to be done and they did it.

After the war they did what that generation was expected to do.  They came home, married, started families, and worked to support their families.  Even in peacetime, there was a job to be done and they did it.

My father, as many of that generation, was not openly emotional or affectionate.  He loved us and would do anything for his family, but in his own very quiet and humble way.

The only time I ever saw him break down was when my mother died.  He loved her so much and was so paralyzed by grief he could not function.  I was thirteen at the time, and the oldest, so it fell upon me make all of the funeral arrangements and to help in any way I could for the next month or so.  This time, there was a job to be done so I did it.

My father was capable of many acts of sacrifice and kindness.  Of course he never told me about them but I still hear stories about him today.

About a month ago I was standing in line at the pharmacy to pick up a prescription.  When it was my turn, I simply said “Pickup for Werner.”

This very old woman standing next to me turned and asked, “Are you Blanche’s boy?”  I told her I was and she told me how close she had been to my parents and that my father was the greatest man who ever lived.

By now, the rest of the crowd in line edged a bit closer to eavesdrop.

She went on to tell stories about my mother and father and finally asked me how I felt about my grandmother.

My grandmother was somewhat of a strict and overbearing woman who could cause a great deal of misery if she wanted to.

Once this woman, Helen, was satisfied she was not going to offend me, she almost yelled out in the store, “That Ethel could be a bitch!  Do you know your grandfather had to stop for a shot and a beer before he could go home and face her?”

After that there was no stopping her and she had certainly piqued my curiosity.  I, and the entire audience in the store, learned that one of my Uncles had fathered a number of illegitimate children both in Europe and here after the war, I apparently had numerous first cousins I was never aware of, my grandfather had a long term affair supposedly because of my grandmother, and my family history was filled with more than a few black sheep.

Now everyone, including the pharmacist, was waiting to hear what was coming next.

Helen became quiet and more introspective.  “You know,” she began, “Ethel (my mother’s mother) became very ill a few years after your mother died.”

I did remember she had a massive heart attack on the day my mother died and she was unable to attend the funeral.

“I think it was after you left for college, your father didn’t think he could care for her anymore so he was going to put her in a nursing home.”

This part I did not remember.  My grandmother was never in a nursing home.

“I remember that day,” Helen continued, “The day she was going in.  I helped your Dad get her into the car and saw them drive off.  Do you know what your father did?  He drove in through the gates of the nursing home.  He drove right past the entrance, continued around the circle, and came right back home.  He cared for Ethel for the rest of her life.”

Similar to many stories about my father, I had never heard this one before.

Growing up he would always tell us, “You are what you do, not what you say.”  He defined himself by that.  There was always a job to be done and he did it.

This is the beginning of a series of essays using the nine writing patterns of narrative , exemplification , compare/contrast , description , definition , process analysis , cause/effect , classification and division , and argumentation/persuasion .

Narrative, or narration , “wraps” the issue or thesis around a character or story.  “Acts of Kindness” is an example.  I could have written a well-researched essay about various and random acts of kindness; but which would have the desired emotional impact on an audience?  The truth is, I don’t know but I do know the audience is the final authority in terms of our work.

The writing pattern of description uses words to stimulate the senses and have the reader paint a mental picture of the scene.  Exemplification uses specific and detailed examples to clarify the thesis or argument.  Process analysis shows the audience how things work or how to do something.

To explain similarities and differences, we use the writing pattern of compare and contrast .  We spend most of our lives just trying to figure things out; and that’s when we use cause and effect analysis .  Definition gives new meaning to something misunderstood or previously unappreciated.  We use classification and division to group some things together and divide others into smaller categories.  And finally, we use argumentation and persuasion to find common ground with an opponent.

This Effective Writing Podcast discusses the role of Audience and Purpose in writing.

For the writer, these are the tools in our toolkit. For the reader, again the final authority, we can better serve them.  I ask my students at the beginning of each term to give us their definition of “ Effective Communication .”  They say things such as, “To better express myself,” “two people talking,” or “arguing back-and-forth.”

The real definition of Effective Communication is simply the art of being understood .

It’s not the audience’s job to figure out what we’re trying to “say.”  It’s our job to be understood.  And when we write an essay or story such as “Acts of Kindness,” it is not our job to show reality.  For most of us, the reality of our daily lives can be somewhat unpleasant.  No, it’s the writer’s job to show an interpretation of reality.  Let’s show the world what it can be like .

Share this:

  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)

Tags: Narrative narrative writing writing styles

  • Next story  Teaching the Writing Process
  • Previous story  Why Crafting a Thesis is Cultural

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Notify me of follow-up comments by email.

Notify me of new posts by email.

PayPal

Grassroots and Progressive views on local, national and world news

  • Sex in San Diego
  • The Widder Curry
  • Under the Perfect Sun
  • Ask an OB Convert
  • Hitchikers' Guide to OB
  • OB Flashes!
  • OB Time Machine
  • SD Free Press

A Random Act of Kindness – An Essay

by Source on March 3, 2011 · 12 comments

in Culture , Life Events

Editor: This post has received a lot of attention recently, so we decided to bring it back up.

a random act of kindness narrative essay

She handed me a five dollar bill through the car window, then turned and walked away. I don’t know her name, nor where she was going—the encounter was so brief—but I know I will never forget that lady stranger who generously saved me from a lot of frustration and prevented me from walking a mile or more to my destination. The scene was a downtown public parking lot. My husband, Leo, and I were already a half hour late for a statewide conference on the status of African American families and children. (CSAAFC). We had taken the wrong fork in the expressway, and found ourselves deadlocked in traffic that was backed up for four miles due to a serious accident. I told Leo to go the other way, but he didn’t. . .

When we finally were able to exit, we tried to find parking in the designated free garages and lots near the hosting hotel. But, by now, they were all full. Not expecting this, neither of us had brought change; all we had was a twenty dollar bill. When we did find some space in a lot two blocks away from the conference, we were unable to pay the automated box for our slot; we needed five dollars. There was, handily, an ATM that charged $4.50 to get change for a twenty. But, there was no guarantee that there would be a five spot; we might have gotten just two tens for change. That wouldn’t have helped the situation. Besides, $4.50 just seemed like highway robbery. I wasn’t willing to pay it. We asked several people approaching the pay box if they could change a twenty. “No”, “No”, “No” were their answers. So, dejected, we walked back to our car, got inside, and started to back out. We were going to look for a spot on the street that would take coins. A quest that would surely have taken us a longer distance away.

Just then, one of the people we had spoken with tapped on the window on the passenger side. It was a short, medium-built Caucasian woman, who was all bundled up in jacket and scarf, wearing jeans and those flat fur-lined boots. Startled, I was reluctant, at first, to roll the window down. What could she possibly want? I lowered the window gingerly to keep the frigid air out, but cracked it just enough to hear what the woman had to say. Through the cracked window, she shoved a five dollar bill. “I don’t have change,” she said, “but here is an extra five dollar bill. Use it to pay for your parking spot.” I was floored! Was this woman, whom I’d never seen before, actually giving me this much money? Yes, that was exactly what she was doing! She wouldn’t take the check I offered her for the cash. She just walked away.

Since that day, I’ve been unable to get that scene out of my head. I tell the story everywhere I go. Though it is a simple tale, its significance is huge. Hers was a random act of kindness that touched my heart deeply. It caused me to ponder how many times I’ve passed up opportunities to help someone out. We were not poor, nor were we begging for a handout; just change for our twenty dollar bill. We certainly didn’t expect someone to freely fork over the cost of our parking slot. But, we were just as compromised in that moment as if we were penniless—we needed something that our money (or lack thereof) couldn’t buy.

The incident reminded me of a story my mother once told me of a stranger she met in a grocery store in Tucson, AZ. The two women struck up friendly conversation and chatted freely as they browsed through the aisles shopping for food. By the time they reached the check-out counter, they had shared quite a bit. While waiting to check out, Mom told the woman, who was also Caucasian, about sadness that she was experiencing in her life. The lady offered her comforting words that were laced with scriptures. Then, out of the blue, she handed my mother an envelope. Mom didn’t know what was in the envelope until she opened it at home. It contained ten twenty dollar bills. The woman was gone, and Mom had no way to thank her for her awesome kindness. As it turned out, it was the exact amount Mother needed to leave an abusive husband and move to California. She took that action as soon as she could. The very next week she packed her car, moved to California, and never looked back. From there the rest is history. Mother’s life took off to higher heights. She grew socially and emotionally, prospered, and helped many others during the rest of her life.

I believe that these “random acts” are really not so random. I believe they are well-placed reminders of our purpose—to befriend each other, and to share our blessings generously. I will not forget what happened to me in that parking lot. My plan is to keep some change in my possession so I can “give forward.” Someone I will meet by chance will need a helping hand. I want it to be mine.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)

{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }

' src=

I bet we could all share acts done for us or that we have done for others. I had a flat on the freeway. Baby in back seat wailing. Cars whizzing by. Finally someone stopped. A Mexican man. Very little English,me very little Spanish. He smiled at the baby, gave him a string of beads hanging from his mirror then set about fixing my tire. He was not here legally. He told me he stopped b/c sometime later someone might stop to help his wife or daughter if they were in trouble.

' src=

Barbara, What a great story of human kindness! How many times have I been helped in just such a situation by perfect strangers. Fortunately, I am fluent in Spanish, so that is always a bonus!

a random act of kindness narrative essay

A friend just told me about what happened when the mother of a mutual acquaintance slipped away from her apartment. She had Alzheimers, lived in Loma Portal and her son was panic stricken looking for her. He called the police and then jumped in his car to search for her.

A carload of tough “gang bangers” found her walking on the side of the road and recognized her because they hung out in the same apartment complex. They got her into the car and drove her back to the complex and waited until the son returned home. They were polite and concerned and promised that they would keep an eye out for her. And despite the fact that they looked scary as hell- one had a tattoo on his neck that said “don’t make me kill again-” they did indeed watch over this mother and son. Looks can be deceiving…

True, that!

That’s a great story!

a random act of kindness narrative essay

Well, homey, you sure have done your share of helping people out in a lifetime. Great story of kindness. The real moral of this story, however, is: Leo should have listened to you when you told him to go the other way. Don’t tell him I said that (smile).

Oops! I forgot and told Leo what you said! His side is splitting with laughter!

' src=

My dear friend. You have always shown a Random Act of Kindness to many. As the the saying goes “What goes around, comes around”. You are now receiving, and well deserved.

Thank you, Rosie Posie, you’re a sweetheart of a friend. . .for how many years? Sh-h-h! Don’t tell!

' src=

All of your wonderful stories brought tears to my eyes because there is nothing greater in this world then strangers helping strangers and wanting nothing in return. People often ask Why a loving God would allow random tragedy and heartache. I don’t know the answer to that, but without it there would be no reason for random kindness and senseless acts of love. Let us all give of the riches that don’t cost a thing but are so rare and precious in this life. I love you all for sharing your stories and reminding me that there are many good hearts in the world. thank you.

Beth, Your words are sweet and oh, so true. I want to be one who gives without remembering, and receives without forgetting.

' src=

Thanks for sharing Shirley. I too think there are millions of such stories that people can share and that in your case it was reaping what you sow. My belief is that God is continually working through everyday people from before your Mom’s experience to beyond today. I’ve been blessed to be on both sides and believe that everything happens for a reason. So, don’t be too hard on Leo, after all if he hadn’t beeen ‘stubborn’ you would have missed the blessing.

By the way, Troy and I have been carrying money around in our cars for years, just for this purpose.

Leave a Comment

Want to be notified of follow-up comments by email? Click the box!

Older Article: Stick A Fork In IT! – Ocean Beach Planning Board done for another session

Newer Article: Life Flying By

Search the OB Rag

Recent comments.

' src=

Recent Ocean Beach and Point Loma News

Two hells angels plead guilty in racist ocean beach attack from june 2023, weekly vigil for ceasefire in gaza in ocean beach — next one: sat. feb.24, the widder curry returns to king crab in the midway, thursday morning: fire in midway fitness center forces closure of part of midway drive and evacuation of hotel, the back story behind beach volleyball in ocean beach, with new leadership, struggling ob town council plans public meeting — wed., feb.28, point loma shoreline closed due to sewage spill from point loma wastewater treatment plant – updated, the 2024 san diego bird festival begins at marina village conference center — feb 21-25, high tides tuesday morning, feb.20, mysterious sign appears along sunset cliffs, early monday fight at point loma vacation rental results in death, michael smolens: cautionary tales about homelessness and mental health programs, money made by city of san diego on short term rentals is not being spent on their enforcement, new cuban sandwich shop opens on ob’s newport ave, mayoral candidate larry turner who now lives in ocean beach faces legal challenge from gloria allies for violating residency rule, this time last year.

  • Live Cam at Big Bear’s Eagle Nest
  • A Ton of Snow Has Hit Local Mountains
  • Removing Tents and Criminalizing the Houseless Are Not Solutions; Housing Is
  • ‘Hey Campbell! Here’s Your Million-Dollar Sidewalk!’
  • Do Not Even Think About Driving to This Winter Wonderland
  • San Diego Eliminates 300 Parking Spaces on Park Blvd Through Balboa Park
  • ‘Your Voice, Your Library’ at Point Loma Library — Saturday, Feb.25
  • Midway Planners Blindsided by Housing Commission’s Purchase of Ramada Inn for Homeless People
  • Lake Cuyamaca Has Snow But OB Doesn’t
  • Feelin’ Chilly?

Keep in Touch!

a random act of kindness narrative essay

Hours & Info

a random act of kindness narrative essay

Top Posts & Pages

Two Hells Angels Plead Guilty in Racist Ocean Beach Attack from June 2023

Welcome to the OB Rag – Ocean Beach & Beyond

a random act of kindness narrative essay

Recent Posts

  • Two Hells Angels Plead Guilty in Racist Ocean Beach Attack from June 2023 February 23, 2024
  • Weekly Vigil for Ceasefire in Gaza in Ocean Beach — Next One: Sat. Feb.24 February 23, 2024
  • The Widder Curry Returns to King Crab in the Midway February 23, 2024
  • Luxury Townhomes for Sale in Point Loma’s New ‘Voltaire Corridor’ February 23, 2024
  • Thursday Morning: Fire in Midway Fitness Center Forces Closure of Part of Midway Drive and Evacuation of Hotel February 22, 2024
  • The Back Story Behind Beach Volleyball in Ocean Beach February 22, 2024
  • With New Leadership, Struggling OB Town Council Plans Public Meeting — Wed., Feb.28 February 22, 2024
  • ‘Shadowy’ PAC and Electrical Union Oppose San Diego Municipal Utility to Replace SDG&E February 21, 2024
  • Michael Smolens: San Diego Voters Are Not Happy – Which Could Help Incumbents February 21, 2024
  • Point Loma Shoreline Closed Due to Sewage Spill From Point Loma Wastewater Treatment Plant – UPDATED February 21, 2024
  • The 2024 San Diego Bird Festival Begins at Marina Village Conference Center — Feb 21-25 February 20, 2024
  • High Tides Tuesday Morning, Feb.20 February 20, 2024
  • Mayoral Candidate Forum — Thursday, Feb. 22 at Kroc Center February 19, 2024
  • U-T Editorial Board Endorses Colleen Cusack for City Council District 3 February 19, 2024
  • Why Northern California Needs Sea Otters Again February 19, 2024
  • Mysterious Sign Appears Along Sunset Cliffs February 19, 2024
  • Alexei Navalny: This Is What a Post-Putin Russia Should Look Like February 19, 2024
  • Early Monday Fight at Point Loma Vacation Rental Results in Death February 19, 2024
  • Michael Smolens: Cautionary Tales About Homelessness and Mental Health Programs February 16, 2024
  • Money Made by City of San Diego on Short Term Rentals Is Not Being Spent on Their Enforcement February 16, 2024
  • RSS - Posts
  • RSS - Comments
  • 3,956,703 hits

Sitemap | Contact | About Us | Comment Policy

Copyright 2007-2017 OBRag.org ~ Code is Poetry

  • Text editing
  • Free AI Essay Writer
  • AI Detector
  • AI Essay Checker
  • Outline Generator
  • Paragraph Generator
  • Caktus AI Review
  • Copy.AI Review
  • Editpad Review
  • EssayAILab Review
  • EssayGenius AI Review
  • Humata AI Review
  • Hyperwrite AI Review
  • Inferkit Review
  • Jasper AI Review
  • Jenni AI Review
  • Kipper Review
  • Notion AI Review
  • Perplexity Review
  • Smodin.io Review
  • Sudowrite Review
  • Sudowrite vs ChatGPT
  • Textero.ai Review
  • The Good AI Review
  • TinyWow Review
  • ToolBaz Review
  • UPDF Review
  • Best AI Detectors
  • ChatGPT Detector Review
  • Content At Scale AI Review
  • GPTZero Review
  • Originality AI Detector Review
  • Passed AI Review
  • Turnitin AI Detector Review
  • Winston AI Review
  • Writefull AI Detector Review
  • Writer.com AI Detector Review
  • ZeroGPT Review
  • GPTzero vs Turnitin
  • Best AI Tools for Academic Research
  • Best AI Chrome extensions for college students
  • Top AI Coding Tools
  • Best AI Translation Tools
  • Plagiarism Checker
  • Paragraph Expander
  • Essay Expander
  • Literature Review Generator
  • Research Paper Generator
  • Thesis Generator
  • Best Plagiarism Checker
  • Copyleaks Review
  • Chegg Plagiarism Check Review
  • Grammarly Review
  • iThenticate Review
  • Originality AI Review
  • PlagiarismCheck Review
  • Plagium Review
  • Plagscan Review
  • Quetext Review
  • Quillbot Review
  • Scribbr Review
  • Turnitin Review
  • Grammarly vs Turnitin
  • Quillbot vs Grammarly
  • Scribbr vs Turnitin
  • Copyleaks vs Turnitin
  • Quillbot Coupons
  • Grammarly Coupons
  • Smallseotools vs Turnitin
  • Best Essay Writing Service Reviews
  • Fast Essay Writing Service
  • 123HelpMe Review
  • 99Papers Review
  • CheapWritingService Review
  • CustomWritings Review
  • DoMyEssay Review
  • EduBirdie Review
  • EssayHub Review
  • EssayPro Review
  • EssayShark Review
  • EssayWriter Review
  • ExtraEssay Review
  • Nerdify Review
  • Paperhelp Review
  • PapersOwl Review
  • PaperCoach Review
  • SpeedyPaper Review
  • StudyBay Review
  • StudyMoose Review
  • WritePaperFor.me Review
  • How to Write a Reconsideration Letter
  • How to Write a Travelogue
  • How to Write an Autobiography
  • How to Write a Brochure
  • How to Write an Evaluation Letter
  • How to Write a Progress Report
  • How to Write an Informal Letter
  • How to Write a Complimentary Letter
  • How to Make a Newsletter
  • How to Write a College Deferral Letter
  • How to Write a Process Paper
  • How to Write a Meeting Agenda
  • How to Write a Hardship Letter
  • How to Write a Refund Letter
  • How to Write Meeting Minutes
  • Dissertation vs Thesis
  • How Long Is a Dissertation?
  • How to Write a Dissertation Abstract
  • How to Write a Dissertation Proposal
  • How to Write an Academic Assignment
  • Writing Guides for Students
  • Writing Essentials
  • How to Write a Review
  • How to Write an Essay
  • How to Write a Research Paper
  • How to Write a Letter
  • Creative Writing Guides
  • Business Writing Guides
  • General Writing Guides
  • Stages of the Writing Process
  • Grammar Handbook
  • Summarizing Tool
  • AI Content Shortener
  • Paraphrasing tool
  • AI Rephraser
  • Rewording Tool
  • Sentence Rewriter
  • Paragraph Rewriter
  • Citation Generator
  • Reference Finder
  • Book Citation Generator
  • Legal Citation Generator
  • Journal Citation Generator
  • Reference Citation Generator
  • Scientific Citation generator
  • Source Citation Generator
  • Website Citation Generator
  • URL citation generator
  • Best Article Rewriter
  • AISEO Review
  • Article Rewriter Review
  • Article Rewriter Tool Review
  • Conch AI Review
  • Duplichecker Review
  • Editpad Paraphrasing Tool Review
  • Frase Review
  • Hypotenuse AI Review
  • IvyPanda Review
  • Paraphrase-Online Review
  • PrePostSEO Review
  • Quillbot Paraphraser Review
  • Rephrase Review
  • Rewriter Review
  • SearchEngineReports Review
  • Sentence Checkup Review
  • SEOMagnifier Rewriter Review
  • SmallSEOTools Review
  • Undetectable AI Review
  • Wordvice Review
  • Best Grammar Checker
  • Ginger Software Review
  • GrammarCheck Review
  • Grammarly Grammar Checker Review
  • Grammar.com Review
  • JSpell Checker Review
  • LanguageTool Review
  • ProWritingAid Review
  • Quillbot Grammar Checker Review
  • Reverso Review
  • Sapling Review
  • Scribbr Grammar Checker Review
  • SpellCheckPlus Review
  • Writer.com Grammar Checker Review
  • Ginger vs ProWritingAid
  • ProWritingAid vs Quillbot
  • Grammarly vs Ginger
  • Languagetool vs Prowritingaid
  • ProWritingAid vs Grammarly
  • Languagetool vs Grammarly
  • Best Citation Generator
  • BibGuru Review
  • BibMe Review
  • CitationMachine Review
  • CiteThisForMe Review
  • EasyBib Review
  • MyBib Review
  • TypeSet (SciSpace) Review
  • EasyBib vs CitationMachine
  • Easybib Coupons
  • Citation Guides
  • Paraphrasing Guides
  • Summary Writing Guides
  • Plagiarism Guides
  • AI Writing Guides
  • AI Detection Guides
  • Python Homework Help Websites
  • AllAssignmentHelp Review
  • Assignmentcore Review
  • AssignmentOverflow Review
  • CallTutors Review
  • CodersArts Review
  • CodingHomeworkHelp Review
  • CodingZap Review
  • CWassignments Review
  • DoMyAssignments Review
  • DoMyCoding Review
  • DoMyHomework123 Review
  • FavTutor Review
  • GeeksProgramming Review
  • GlobalAssignmentHelp Review
  • HomeworkforYou Review
  • HomeworkHelpOnline Review
  • MyCodingPal Review
  • MyHomeworkDone Review
  • ProgrammingAssignment Review
  • Tutorbin Review
  • Python Guides
  • Javascript Guides
  • HTML Guides
  • Java Guides
  • Matlab Guides
  • Machine Learning Guides
  • Bug Tracking Tools
  • Best Free Coding Bootcamps
  • Statistics Homework Help Sites
  • Best Coding Challenge Websites
  • CameraMath Review

Most Popular

13 days ago

International Students in Canada Experiencing Crisis as Never Before Calling for Government Action

Kristen stewart embraces androgyny in bold rolling stone cover shoot – explore style essay topics, most written responses on staar exams will be graded by a computer.

10 days ago

QuizRise Review: Ace Tests With AI

Kindness essay sample, example.

Admin

The sudden hiss of the bus door opening awoke him, and he noticed it was his stop; he hurriedly rolled out of the bus, coughing as exhaust poured over him. Not the best beginning of the day… well, nothing new , he thought.

Jack’s work day began in about 30 minutes, so he decided to take a walk around the block to try to gather his senses and adjust himself to another nettlesome day. His existence was not so decrepit as it could seem—he was a decent guy with an abundance of friends and hobbies, a tolerable job, and reasonable plans for the future. But for some reason, this August had been too harsh for him, and he felt off his rails.

While wandering, he ran into a couple: a young man and woman talking to each other in a foreign language. Jack decided the language they were speaking was Russian. Tourists , he thought, and they were going to pass by, but the woman called to him in crooked English:

“ Excuze me! Could help us prease ?”

Her pronunciation was horrible—just like the ones you can hear in Hollywood movies about Russian mafias.

“Yes, how can I help you?”

“We are tourist, lost. Need “Dolphin” hotel. You know where is?”

She was visibly courageous as she waded through the jungle marsh of a foreign language.

“I’m sorry, I don’t know. I beg your pardon… I’m in a hurry,” Jack said, and moved off. He wasn’t in a hurry at all, and he knew where the hotel was (a couple of blocks away, actually), but he was so delved into his problems and his bad mood that he lied mechanically. He felt sullied with guilt; after walking about 100 feet, he turned back: luckily, the couple was still there. They looked bewildered… he imagined himself being in a city as huge as New York for the first time, knowing only a couple of English words, and shivered. He walked up to them.

“I remembered where the “Dolphin” hotel is. I’m sorry, I just got confused: there are hundreds of hotels in New York. It’s not far from here: you can walk there by feet. You need to go straight to that crossroad, then turn right, and walk about 500 feet more. There you will see an old catholic church, and a Burger King . Turn to the left, cross the road, and walk down the street till you see a white-blue 5-storeyed building. That will be the hotel you’re looking for.”

The couple thanked him, and Jack left lightly this time. But when he turned his back, he saw the couple was still there, and the look on their faces was the same. Maybe I was talking too quickly, and they couldn’t understand me well enough , he thought. Or maybe they couldn’t remember everything I told them. Man, I should have simply passed by.

All of a sudden, he felt he could do something more important than sit in his office all day long. He knew he couldn’t leave these young people behind: they needed help, and their English was so poor they could possibly spend the whole day trying to get to the hotel. He walked up to them once again. They looked at him in surprise.

“You know, I have some free time as well,” Jack said. “I could guide you to the hotel, if you still need my help.”

The man and the woman looked at each other, then at Jack, and then the man smiled.

“ Sink you,” he said.

For the next 40 minutes, Jack listened to the couple’s crooked English, in which they told him stories about their journeys and shared their impressions about New York with him. He found they were lively and amiable, and didn’t hesitate speaking despite their poor English. Soon enough, he could understand them as if they were talking clearly, and even learned a couple of Russian words—mostly expressions of gratitude and delight. When they finally arrived at the hotel, he felt he would like spend some more time with them, show them around, perhaps. The couple gladly agreed to his proposal to guide them through the city streets.

They exchanged contacts, and Jack hurried to work. For the first time since the beginning of August, he felt sane.

Follow us on Reddit for more insights and updates.

Comments (0)

Welcome to A*Help comments!

We’re all about debate and discussion at A*Help.

We value the diverse opinions of users, so you may find points of view that you don’t agree with. And that’s cool. However, there are certain things we’re not OK with: attempts to manipulate our data in any way, for example, or the posting of discriminative, offensive, hateful, or disparaging material.

Comments are closed.

More from Narrative Essay Examples and Samples

Who Dies In Romeo And Juliet

Nov 23 2023

Who Dies In Romeo And Juliet

Applying epidemiology to program design for chronic disease

May 05 2023

Applying epidemiology to program design for chronic disease Essay Sample, Example

Health Care Risk Management Program

Analyzing a health care risk management program Essay Sample, Example

Related writing guides, writing a narrative essay.

Remember Me

What is your profession ? Student Teacher Writer Other

Forgotten Password?

Username or Email

Shoba Sreenivasan, Ph.D., and Linda E. Weinberger, Ph.D.

Why Random Acts of Kindness Matter to Your Well-being

Being kind can have an impact on your psychological and physical health..

Posted November 16, 2017 | Reviewed by Lybi Ma

Mother Teresa once said, “We cannot do great things on this earth, only small things with great love.”

Small acts of kindness resonate in all our lives. For example:

  • Letting someone cut in front of you in a traffic jam.
  • Stopping to talk with an elderly neighbor, even though you are in a rush.
  • Lending a helping hand to a co-worker who’s behind on their project, even though this means that you will have to stay late at work.
  • Giving a gift certificate for a dinner out to a couple who you know are facing hard times.

Kindness means a behavioral response of compassion and actions that are selfless; or a mindset that places compassion for others before one’s own interests. In performing the selfless act, a person may undercut their own selfish interests.

Kindness is a value that is often disregarded. Why is kindness so undervalued? In part, it’s because kind people may be viewed as “enablers” by some, or worse, as “suckers” by the cynical. Thus, the cynic’s view that one is a “sucker,” if one behaves in a kind manner toward others, reflects a belief system that success is only achieved through stepping on or ignoring others. Yet, the cynic’s behavior rarely results in true happiness —that sense of feeling loved, that one’s true destiny and purpose are fulfilled, and that what one is doing matters in the most profound sense.

In fact, kindness is linked inextricably to happiness and contentment—at both psychological and spiritual levels. Over a decade ago, in a study of Japanese undergraduates, researcher Otake and colleagues, found that happy people were kinder than people who were not happy. Their study also revealed and that one’s sense of happiness increased by the simple act of counting the number of one’s acts of kindness. Counting one’s acts of kindness also led happy people to become more kind and grateful.

Why do random acts of kindness increase a person’s sense of happiness? Because kindness can promote gratitude . You are kind to others in need; having that awareness then heightens the sense of your own good fortune. Kindness promotes empathy and compassion; which in turn, leads to a sense of interconnectedness with others. Kindness can forward the will to live in depressed individuals who feel isolated and different; that is why performing volunteer work is so powerful. When you feel connected with others, you lessen alienation and you enhance the sense that we are more similar than dissimilar in our experiences. Feeling connected melds us together rather than divides us. Kindness is potent in strengthening a sense of community and belonging.

Researcher, Barbara Fredrickson, had an interesting viewpoint—that kindness, specifically loving-kindness, moved one out of the selfish realm. Stated differently, it took one off the hedonic treadmill . Compassion and kindness also reduce stress , boost our immune systems, and help reduce negative emotions such as anger , anxiety , and depression .

When we practice random acts of kindness,

  • It releases positivity: We feel better and the recipients of our acts feel better, which then makes them more likely to be kind to other people.
  • It can release neurochemicals that result in a sense of well-being, the “helper’s high,” as Allan Luks and Peggy Payne describe the healing power of doing good. In fact, the neural circuits that are involved in chemical “highs” are the same ones activated by kindness and compassion.
  • It can reduce pain. Dopamine , serotonin, and endogenous opioids are released by kind behavior.
  • It enhances the release of oxytocin in interactions where two or more people are engaged in kindness behavior. In turn, bonds between those who are kind to one another are strengthened.
  • It enhances both physical and mental health. Many physical ailments are either precipitated by or aggravated by stress. Kindness reduces stress.

Kindness is a habit of giving—of wanting to lift burdens from others or to merely provide a helping hand or a shoulder to cry on. It humanizes us; it lifts us spiritually. And it is good for us.

Interestingly, the simple witnessing of others being kind can release the same “feel good” chemicals that engaging in an act of kindness can produce. However, one can yield a greater benefit by being the performer of acts of kindness. Look for opportunities to be kind and count your acts of kindness. You will experience the rewards almost immediately. One act of small kindness can release an enormous chain of positive events. The miracle of kindness is that it is contagious and something we should all want to pass on and spread to many others.

Fredrickson, B. L., Cohn, M. A., Coffey, K. A., Pek, J., & Finkel, S. M. (2008). Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 95 , 1045–1062. DOI: 10.1037/a0013262

Hamilton, D. R. (2010). Why Kindness is Good for You. United Kingdom: Hay House.

Luks, A., & Payne, P. (2001). The Healing Power of Doing Good. Lincoln, NE: iUniverse.com, Inc.

Kerr, S. L., O’Donovan, A., & Pepping, C. A. (2015). Can gratitude and kindness interventions enhance well-being in a clinical sample? Journal of Happiness Studies, 16, 17-36. DOI: 10.1007/s10902-013-9492-1

Otake, K., Shimai, S., Tanaka-Matsumi, J., Otsui, K., & Fredrickson, B. L. (2006). Happy people become happier through kindness: A counting kindnesses intervention. Journal of Happiness Studies, 7, 361-375. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10902-005-3650-z

Shoba Sreenivasan, Ph.D., and Linda E. Weinberger, Ph.D.

Shoba Sreenivasan, Ph.D., and Linda E. Weinberger, Ph.D. , are psychology professors at the Keck School of Medicine at USC.

  • Find a Therapist
  • Find a Treatment Center
  • Find a Psychiatrist
  • Find a Support Group
  • Find Teletherapy
  • United States
  • Brooklyn, NY
  • Chicago, IL
  • Houston, TX
  • Los Angeles, CA
  • New York, NY
  • Portland, OR
  • San Diego, CA
  • San Francisco, CA
  • Seattle, WA
  • Washington, DC
  • Asperger's
  • Bipolar Disorder
  • Chronic Pain
  • Eating Disorders
  • Passive Aggression
  • Personality
  • Goal Setting
  • Positive Psychology
  • Stopping Smoking
  • Low Sexual Desire
  • Relationships
  • Child Development
  • Therapy Center NEW
  • Diagnosis Dictionary
  • Types of Therapy

January 2024 magazine cover

Overcome burnout, your burdens, and that endless to-do list.

  • Coronavirus Disease 2019
  • Affective Forecasting
  • Neuroscience
  • Entertainment
  • Environment
  • Information Science and Technology
  • Social Issues

Home Essay Samples Life Kindness

A Random Act of Kindness: Experiencing the Goodness of Humanity

Table of contents, an unexpected encounter, the ripple effect, the lesson learned.

  • Fowler, S. B., & Dell, D. M. (2004). Acts of Kindness and Acts of Novelty Affect Life Satisfaction. The Journal of Social Psychology, 144 (5), 493-495.
  • Lyubomirsky, S., Tkach, C., & DiMatteo, M. R. (2006). What are the Differences Between Happiness and Self-esteem? Social Indicators Research, 78 (3), 363-404.
  • Post, S. G. (2005). Altruism, Happiness, and Health: It’s Good to Be Good. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 12 (2), 66-77.
  • Seligman, M. E., Steen, T. A., Park, N., & Peterson, C. (2005). Positive Psychology Progress: Empirical Validation of Interventions. American Psychologist, 60 (5), 410-421.
  • Spencer, J., & Pahl, S. (2006). Giving it Away: Exploring the Psychological Benefits of Charitable Giving for the Donor. Psychology and Health, 21 (3), 335-349.

*minimum deadline

Cite this Essay

To export a reference to this article please select a referencing style below

writer logo

Related Essays

Need writing help?

You can always rely on us no matter what type of paper you need

*No hidden charges

100% Unique Essays

Absolutely Confidential

Money Back Guarantee

By clicking “Send Essay”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement. We will occasionally send you account related emails

You can also get a UNIQUE essay on this or any other topic

Thank you! We’ll contact you as soon as possible.

  • Share full article

a random act of kindness narrative essay

The Unexpected Power of Random Acts of Kindness

New research shows small gestures matter even more than we may think.

Credit... Shuhua Xiong

Supported by

By Catherine Pearson

  • Sept. 2, 2022

In late August, Erin Alexander, 57, sat in the parking lot of a Target store in Fairfield, Calif., and wept. Her sister-in-law had recently died, and Ms. Alexander was having a hard day.

A barista working at the Starbucks inside the Target was too. The espresso machine had broken down and she was clearly stressed. Ms. Alexander — who’d stopped crying and gone inside for some caffeine — smiled, ordered an iced green tea, and told her to hang in there. After picking up her order, she noticed a message on the cup: “Erin,” the barista had scrawled next to a heart, “your soul is golden.”

“I’m not sure I even necessarily know what ‘your soul is golden’ means,” said Ms. Alexander, who laughed and cried while recalling the incident.

But the warmth of that small and unexpected gesture, from a stranger who had no inkling of what she was going through, moved her deeply.

“Of course, I was still really sad,” Ms. Alexander said. “But that little thing made the rest of my day.”

New findings, published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology in August, corroborate just how powerful experiences like Ms. Alexander’s can be. Researchers found that people who perform a random act of kindness tend to underestimate how much the recipient will appreciate it. And they believe that miscalculation could hold many of us back from doing nice things for others more often.

“We have this negativity bias when it comes to social connection. We just don’t think the positive impact of our behaviors is as positive as it is,” said Marisa Franco, a psychologist and author of “Platonic: How the Science of Attachment Can Help You Make — and Keep — Friends,” who did not work on the recent research.

“With a study like this, I hope it will inspire more people to actually commit random acts of kindness,” she said.

Underestimating the power of small gestures

The recent study comprised eight small experiments that varied in design and participants. In one, for example, graduate students were asked to perform thoughtful acts of their own choosing, like giving a classmate a ride home from campus, baking cookies or buying someone a cup of coffee.

In another, researchers recruited 84 participants on two cold weekends at the ice skating rink at Maggie Daley Park in Chicago. They were given a hot chocolate from the snack kiosk and were told they could keep it or give it to a stranger as a deliberate act of kindness. The 75 participants who gave away their hot chocolate were asked to guess how “big” the act of kindness would feel to the recipient on a scale from 0 (very small) to 10 (very large), and to predict how the recipient would rate their mood (ranging from much more negative than normal to much more positive than normal) upon receiving the drink. The recipients were then asked to report how they actually felt using the same scales.

In that experiment — and across all others — the people doing the kind thing consistently underestimated how much it was actually appreciated, said one of the study’s authors, Amit Kumar, an assistant professor of marketing and psychology at the University of Texas, Austin.

“We believe these miscalibrated expectations matter for behavior,” he said. “Not knowing one’s positive impact can stand in the way of people engaging in these sorts of acts of kindness in daily life.”

Another experiment in the study was devised to help researchers better understand this tendency to underestimate the power of our own kind acts. In it, Dr. Kumar and his team recruited 200 participants in Maggie Daley Park. A control group of 50 participants received a cupcake simply for participating in the study and rated their mood. Another 50 people who did not receive a cupcake rated how they thought the receivers would feel after getting a cupcake.

A third group of 50 people were told they could give a cupcake away to strangers, and were asked to rate their own mood as well as how they believed the recipients would feel. Once again, the researchers found that those who got a cupcake as a result of a random act of kindness felt better than the person on the giving end thought they would.

Also, people who got a cupcake because of an act of kindness rated themselves higher on a happiness scale than those who got one simply for participating in the study, suggesting they got an emotional boost from the gesture, in addition to the cupcake itself.

“People tend to think that what they are giving is kind of little, maybe it’s relatively inconsequential,” Dr. Kumar said. “But recipients are less likely to think along those lines. They consider the gesture to be significantly more meaningful because they are also thinking about the fact that someone did something nice for them.”

How to show others you care

The notion that kindness can boost well-being is hardly new. Studies have shown that prosocial behavior — basically, voluntarily helping others — can help lower people’s daily stress levels, and that simple acts of connection, like texting a friend, mean more than many of us realize . But researchers who study kindness and friendship say they hope the new findings strengthen the scientific case for making these types of gestures more often.

“I have found that kindness can be a really hard sell,” said Tara Cousineau, a clinical psychologist, meditation teacher and author of “The Kindness Cure: How The Science of Compassion Can Heal Your Heart and Your World.” “People desire kindness yet often feel inconvenienced by the thought of being kind.”

Stress can also keep people from being kind to others, she said, as can the “little judgy voice” in people’s heads that causes them to question whether their gesture or gift will be misinterpreted, or whether it will make the recipient feel pressured to pay it back.

“When the kindness impulse arises,” Dr. Cousineau said, “we totally overthink it.”

But an act of kindness is unlikely to backfire, she said, and in some instances it can beget even more kindness. Jennifer Oldham, 36, who lost her 9-year-old daughter, Hallie, in July after a tree fell on the car she was in during a storm, recently created a Facebook group — Keeping Kindness for Hallie — that encourages participants to engage in random acts of kindness. People have bought groceries and baby formula for others in Hallie’s honor. They’ve donated school supplies and given hydrangeas to strangers.

“No small act goes unnoticed,” Ms. Oldham said. “It will help your own heart, maybe even more than the recipients.”

Sometimes, it is something much sillier. When Kimberly Britt, president of Phoenix College in Arizona, left for a week of vacation in July, her vice president of student affairs hid 60 rubber chickens in her office.

“She did it so I wouldn’t find them all immediately, and it did take me a while,” she said. “But it was meant to bring a smile to my day when I returned.”

It did, and has since inspired Dr. Britt to begin a random acts of kindness challenge on campus. They have recorded 200 acts of kindness so far: a teacher who went above and beyond to spend time with a student who was struggling emotionally, a staff member who brought food to the office, another who made coffee for all of their colleagues.

If you are not already in the habit of performing random kind acts — or if it does not come naturally to you — Dr. Franco said to start by thinking about what you like to do.

“It’s not about you being like, ‘Oh man, now I have to learn how to bake cookies in order to be nice,’” she said. “It’s about: What skills and talents do you already have? And how can you turn that into an offering for other people?”

A Guide to Building and Nurturing Friendships

Friendships are an essential ingredient in a happy life. here’s how to give them the care and attention they deserve..

How does one make meaningful friendships as an adult? Here are some suggestions ,  useful tools  and tips from an expert .

If you are an introvert, it can be hard to reconcile the need for close connections with the urge to cancel social plans. Here is how to find your comfort zone .

A friendship with a sibling can be a lifelong gift. Whether you’ve always been close, or wish you got along better, here’s how to bolster your connection .

All relationships require some work. For your friendships to thrive , focus on your listening skills, compassion and communication. And make sure to spend time together .

American men are in a “friendship recession,” but experts say a few simple strategies can help. One tip? Practice being more vulnerable with your pals .

It’s quite common for people to feel jealousy or envy toward their friends. Luckily, there are ways to turn those emotions into an opportunity  for growth.

Being a good friend means offering your support in times of need. Just remember: Sometimes less is better than more .

Advertisement

Home — Essay Samples — Life — Kindness — Acts of Kindness: Importance of Being Kind

test_template

Acts of Kindness: Importance of Being Kind

  • Categories: Empathy Humanity Kindness

About this sample

close

Words: 792 |

Updated: 30 November, 2023

Words: 792 | Pages: 2 | 4 min read

Works Cited:

  • Elliot, A. J., Maier, M. A., Moller, A. C., Friedman, R., & Meinhardt, J. (2007). Color and psychological functioning: The effect of red on performance attainment. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 136(1), 154-168.
  • Foulsham, T., Walker, E., & Kingstone, A. (2011). The where, what, and when of gaze allocation in the lab and the natural environment. Vision Research, 51(17), 1920-1931.
  • Hemphill, M. A. (1996). A note on adults' color-emotion associations. Journal of Genetic Psychology, 157(3), 275-280.
  • Jacobs, K. W., & Hustmyer Jr, F. E. (1974). Effects of four psychological primary colors on GSR, heart rate and respiration rate. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 38(3), 763-766.
  • Johnson, K. K., & Lennon, S. J. (2015). The role of color in marketing. Journal of Business Research, 68(2), 243-249.
  • Kuehni, R. G. (2013). Color: An introduction to practice and principles (3rd ed.). John Wiley & Sons.
  • Morton, J. L., & Johnson, M. H. (2011). Consistency of color emotion. Color Research & Application, 36(1), 41-52.
  • Palmer, S. E., & Schloss, K. B. (2010). An ecological valence theory of human color preference. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 107(19), 8877-8882.
  • Smith, K. C., & Crenshaw, S. (2019). Color theory: An essential guide to color-from basic principles to practical applications. Rockport Publishers.
  • Valdez, P., & Mehrabian, A. (1994). Effects of color on emotions. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 123(4), 394-409.

Video Version

Video Thumbnail

Cite this Essay

Let us write you an essay from scratch

  • 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
  • Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Get high-quality help

author

Dr. Heisenberg

Verified writer

  • Expert in: Life

writer

+ 120 experts online

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Related Essays

4 pages / 1763 words

6 pages / 2761 words

7 pages / 3184 words

4 pages / 1786 words

Remember! This is just a sample.

You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers.

121 writers online

Acts of Kindness: Importance of Being Kind Essay

Still can’t find what you need?

Browse our vast selection of original essay samples, each expertly formatted and styled

Related Essays on Kindness

At the heart of human interaction lies a fundamental truth: the impact of kindness and generosity transcends individual actions, shaping relationships, communities, and societies. This essay delves into the profound significance [...]

Humans are constantly interacting with one another, whether it’s via technology or face to face. These interactions range from conversing at the dinner table to ordering coffee to eye contact made in an elevator. Too often, [...]

In our daily lives, we often experience emotions and sensations beyond our environment and beyond physical limits. These emotions are about people or do not allow us to reflect and initiate actions to avoid obstacles or [...]

There are some random acts that we do in our everyday life, which don’t benefit us directly, but we do them for others. To make the ones around us happy, which in returns makes us happy. Those random acts may include giving a [...]

In this period where everyone in the country is under quarantine, everyone is doing their part in order to minimize the spread of the epidemic. In fact, there are some people that sacrifice themselves out there in order to help [...]

Related Topics

By clicking “Send”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement . We will occasionally send you account related emails.

Where do you want us to send this sample?

By clicking “Continue”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy.

Be careful. This essay is not unique

This essay was donated by a student and is likely to have been used and submitted before

Download this Sample

Free samples may contain mistakes and not unique parts

Sorry, we could not paraphrase this essay. Our professional writers can rewrite it and get you a unique paper.

Please check your inbox.

We can write you a custom essay that will follow your exact instructions and meet the deadlines. Let's fix your grades together!

Get Your Personalized Essay in 3 Hours or Less!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

  • Instructions Followed To The Letter
  • Deadlines Met At Every Stage
  • Unique And Plagiarism Free

a random act of kindness narrative essay

Kindness Starts With One ®

One smile. One hug. One cup of coffee. One person...

Do you have someone in your life who inspired you to be a better person? Did you witness an act of kindness that left an impression? Share your kindness story with the world.

I emailed all my teachers kind emails!! And let some students talk first!

I had just been cut off driving by an aggressive driver. I reached my destination, which was a supermarket, I parked, and I saw a lady struggling with the shopping cart and putting the groceries in her car. I went up to her and said can I help you, I’ll take your cart back to the rack. She responded and...

So Maclin wanted donuts so bad so I saved him a donut!!!

I was just at Disney for vacation this past week, during the time there our group worked out together in the mornings to support one another. While out on our runs we would pick up the trash we would see along the way. This encouraged other runners/walkers to do the same. We did the same throughout the parks too! It...

I found a dog on its own running around so I told my mother and she took a photo of it put it on Facebook and we took the dog back to its owner

I helped my sister study because she was about to take regions,and she didn't understand anything she was doing so we sat down, and made flash cards together to review for her regions, and she passed now we help each other study whenever we needed help.

Some friends in our market town in Suffolk, UK, are getting together every year around valentines since 2022 to offer hugs to passers-by. Even if people do not take us up on our offer, our signs make them smile and lights up their day. Especially in 2022 we had so many comments from people that they haven't had close contact...

He and I met a few years back at a local Starbucks where I've been a regular for many years. Over time we got to know each other and got to be good friends, with him, as I recall, taking the first step in inviting my son and me to a full night of country concerts, free of charge, VIP...

I was in a cafe, a server accidentally spilled hot coffee on my lap, causing a scene. Instead of berating the server I calmly reassured her that it was an accident. Touched by the kindness the server apologized profusely and I graciously accepted , diffusing the tension with understanding and empathy. In that moment of chaos, compassion prevailed. It left...

I was in the grocery story and needed to get some shredded cheese. An elderly man stood there in front of the cheese section studying every selection. He finally moved a bit and I was able to get to what I needed. He struck up a conversation with me, telling me how much prices have gone up and that he...

I was walking out of the supermarket and I saw an old women had split her shopping bag. I went inside the shop explained the problem and they fully refunded any broken or damaged items. I saved the woman at least £50.00 on broken items.

My family accidentally made a waitress cry, so we had made her flustered and she messed up another person's order, and we were super confusing. So we gave her a 100$ tip and she came out and knocked on the truck window and asking if we were serious and started to cry. It felt amazing to make her so happy.

In this story that I would be telling is about how I treat my friends kindly and helping. I was always a nice and honest person though I wasn't much of a talkative person but I tried making friends with something like we would have in common and it turned out pretty well for a start. We would always share...

The day i gave a homeless man 40$ dollars. And then i gave him water and food and then he thanked me for giving him everything i gave him. And then i saw a cat where the gas station and i went in the gas station and got milk for the cat and the i gave the cat and he...

My brother is always helps me with my studies, and always helps me clean up the house with my mom. My brother always is kind to me, and always cares about me a lot.

In one day it is very hard to earn good friends but to earn bad friends it is very easy. It is your choice choose good or bad friends. Be kind every time, even with your annoyed friends

once in Boston when I was riding my scooter I fell down and got really ill .I was in bed and a few of my friend came over. after a little bit I noticed they had gifts ,not just any gifts, they where gifts for me! I wished I could give them gifts too but, I was moving out.

I was quitting a game, so I decided to give out my items in there. They were fairly good, so I decided to give only a few, and keep the rest. Although I only gave about 3, everyone who had gotten something was very grateful and happy.

My friend always helps me when I am confused. he cheers me up when i am sad. and he is the best to play with.

My friend gave me a piece of chocolate because I did not get one.

Every day she works so hard. I try to help but it's too hard. I asked if my mom could teach me. she said yes with a smile. I got stronger. I worked. my mom was proud. I was very happy. finally, I was useful. now I will make her the proudest mom. next I want to be smarter.

My friend gifts me a skin.

I am so grateful for my team, Ambulatory. They are strong, helpful, always up for a challenge and assist me anytime I have an issue without hesitation. I don't think I would be as good as I am currently if it wasn't for their continued support.

I would to nominate 2 people from my service in Prescott house and they are Tim tunstall and Paul Dunne they are both fantastic support workers they are kind caring calm and nothing is to much trouble and great to work with

4 years ago I remember being in my room watching videos. I saw a video about a cat and decided to watch it. It was about a cat who was rescued from a ditch. It really inspired me so I decided to go out looking for a cat. I found a cat and its owner said they were disowning...

my friend demarcusus demetrius tyronus the basketball player gave me a gift in fortnite ( it was a gun wrap)

My good friend Terquavian Demarcises III gave me $1

One day my papa gave me a new water toy. My cousin didnt have one so I gave it to her. Then my papa showed me he had enough for everyone, so I ended up getting one too!

One day I want to go home my neighbor old women fell down on the upstairs I help him

l help my peers with their homework when they are not understanding a topic.

SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE KINDNESS EMAILS

Sign up today and we'll send you a FREE Daily Dose of Kindness ® as well as our monthly kindness newsletters to help make kindness the norm.

Essay on Kindness

500 words essay on kindness.

The world we live in today has been through a lot of things from world wars to epidemics, but one thing which remained constant throughout was resilience and kindness. Moreover, it was the spirit to fight back and help out each other. Kindness must be an essential and universal quality to make the world a better place. Through an essay on kindness, we will go through it in detail.

essay on kindness

Importance of Kindness

Kindness towards nature, animals and other people has the ability to transform the world and make it a beautiful place for living. But, it is also important to remember that kindness towards you is also essential for personal growth.

Kindness is basically being polite, compassionate and thoughtful. Every religion and faith teaches its followers to be kind. Most importantly, kindness must not limit to humans but also to every living creature.

Even nature has its own way of showing kindness. For instance, the trees grow fruits for us and provide us with shade. One must not see kindness as a core value but as a fundamental behavioural element. When you are kind to your loved ones, you create a stable base.

As people are becoming more self-centred today, we must learn kindness. We must try to integrate it into ourselves. You might not know how a small act of kindness can bring about a change in someone’s life. So, be kind always.

Kindness Always Wins

There is no doubt that kindness always wins and it has been proven time and again by people. Sid is a greedy man who does not share his wealth with anyone, not even his family members.

He also does not pay his workers well. One day, he loses his bag of gold coins and loses his temper. Everyone helps him out to search for it but no one finds it. Finally, his worker’s little son finds the bag.

Upon checking the bag, he sees all the coins are there. But, his greed makes him play a trick on the poor worker. He claims that there were more coins in the bag and the worker stole them.

The issue goes to the court and the judge confirms from Sid whether his bag had more coins to which he agrees. So, the judge rules out that as Sid’s bag had more coins , the bag which the worker’s son found is not his.

Therefore, the bag gets handed to the worker as no one else claims it. Consequently, you see how the worker’s son act of kindness won and paid him well. On the other hand, how Sid’s greediness resulted in his loss only.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Conclusion of the Essay on Kindness

It is essential for all of us to understand the value of kindness. Always remember, it does not cost anything to be kind. It may be a little compliment or it can be a grand gesture, no matter how big or small, kindness always matters. Therefore, try your best to be kind to everyone around you.

FAQ of Essay on Kindness

Question 1: Why is it important to be kind?

Answer 1: It is important to be kind because it makes one feel good about oneself. When you do things for other people and help them with anything, it makes you feel warm and that you have accomplished something. Moreover, you also get respect in return.

Question 2: Why is kindness so powerful?

Answer 2: Kindness has a lot of benefits which includes increased happiness and a healthy heart . It slows down the ageing process and also enhances relationships and connections, which will indirectly boost your health.

Customize your course in 30 seconds

Which class are you in.

tutor

  • Travelling Essay
  • Picnic Essay
  • Our Country Essay
  • My Parents Essay
  • Essay on Favourite Personality
  • Essay on Memorable Day of My Life
  • Essay on Knowledge is Power
  • Essay on Gurpurab
  • Essay on My Favourite Season
  • Essay on Types of Sports

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Download the App

Google Play

a random act of kindness narrative essay

10,000+ students realised their study abroad dream with us. Take the first step today

Meet top uk universities from the comfort of your home, here’s your new year gift, one app for all your, study abroad needs, start your journey, track your progress, grow with the community and so much more.

a random act of kindness narrative essay

Verification Code

An OTP has been sent to your registered mobile no. Please verify

a random act of kindness narrative essay

Thanks for your comment !

Our team will review it before it's shown to our readers.

Leverage Edu

  • School Education /

✍️Essay on Kindness: Samples in 100, 150 and 200 Words

' src=

  • Updated on  
  • Nov 2, 2023

Essay on kindness

Research says that being kind to someone or vice versa can positively rewire your brain. Kindness is when one is generous to another person. Well, in today’s world, it is very difficult. We can hardly find anyone. Do you wish to bring a change in your lifestyle ? Well, you have come to the right place. Today, we will be talking about kindness in depth. Here, in this article, we have compiled several sample essays on kindness which describe this topic in depth. 

This Blog Includes:

Importance of kindness, essay on kindness in 100 words, essay on kindness in 150 words, essay on kindness in 200 words.

Kindness is an effortless yet powerful gesture which put a very positive impact on someone’s life. In the academic community, this gesture is seen as an attitude that can create a huge impact on one’s achievement. 

Speaking in a bit of a medical language, being kind to someone boosts serotonin and dopamine. These brain chemicals, known as neurotransmitters, are what light up your reward and pleasure centres and give you a sense of fulfilment.

This doesn’t end here. Kindness has been shown to have cardioprotective effects. It can lower blood pressure and the stress hormone cortisol, which in turn affects stress levels. 

Speaking of which, here, we have compiled an essay on kindness which will provide you with more information on this topic. Let’s dive in. 

Also Read: Essay on the Importance of the English Language for Students

Being kind is a basic virtue which is very important for humankind to create a world that is more peaceful and compassionate. It is one of the most straightforward acts which can be shown by anyone to others without expecting anything in return. When it comes to showing kindness, there are many ways by which one can show it. These include opening doors for others giving your time to support a good cause or simply being with them during their hard times. 

Always remember that even showing a tiny act of kindness can create a huge impact in someone’s life or simply make their day better. 

Also Read: Essay on Save Environment: Samples in 100, 200, 300 Words

Kindness is a feeling of being generous, friendly and considerate. In a world full of hatred and cruelty, kindness is what one can spread. You never know whom you might someone from a having bad day. One can simply start spreading kindness in the community they are living in. 

One of the best examples to describe the word kindness would be Mother Teresa . She devoted her entire life to caring for the destitute and dying in the slums of Calcutta (Kolkata). She is considered to be one of the greatest humanitarians the world has ever produced.

Speaking of kindness, doing little things such as opening a door for someone. Helping an elderly person cross the street, or holding things of someone are some basic things which can be done.

To conclude, kindness is contagious. It can spread like wildfire. Therefore, in a world where there is so much hatred, and cruelty, where people are fighting. One can be kind which will provoke others to do the same. 

Also Read: Essay on Unity in Diversity in 100 to 200 Words

Kindness is one of the most important qualities which people should have. This is very important to create a more compassionate and harmonious world. The simple act of being considerate towards others and not expecting anything in return is kindness. The word ‘kindness’ can be expressed in many different ways. From helping someone during tough times to helping an old lady cross the street is what best describes this word. 

Other than this, kindness is also beneficial for our well-being. Studies show that people who are kind to people around them tend to be more happy than others. This is because of the endorphins which are released. They contribute towards mood-boosting and pain-relieving effects. Not only this, kindness has also proved to have reduced stress levels and improved cardiovascular health.

To conclude, I would like to leave you all with a thought. In today’s times, we hardly come across kind people. Consider ourselves, we may feel for others around us going through the bad phase but how often do we reach out and assist them? It is our responsibility to nurture kindness in ourselves before we can ask others to do the same for us.

Related Articles 

We hope after reading some of these essays on kindness, your perspective on kindness would have changed. Always remember, everyone is fighting their own battles, so the best you can do is be a little kind and bring a smile to their face. Signing off!

There are certain advantages to our happiness and general well-being for those of us who are kind and caring. Perhaps we will live longer. Additionally, kindness lowers stress and enhances mental health.

These expressions describe persons who are kind, considerate, and considerate of others’ feelings.

Kindness belongs to the human virtue category and is one of the 24 universal character strengths.

For more information on such interesting topics, visit our essay-writing page and follow Leverage Edu ! 

' src=

Malvika Chawla

Malvika is a content writer cum news freak who comes with a strong background in Journalism and has worked with renowned news websites such as News 9 and The Financial Express to name a few. When not writing, she can be found bringing life to the canvasses by painting on them.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Contact no. *

a random act of kindness narrative essay

Connect With Us

a random act of kindness narrative essay

25,000+ students realised their study abroad dream with us. Take the first step today.

a random act of kindness narrative essay

Resend OTP in

a random act of kindness narrative essay

Need help with?

Study abroad.

UK, Canada, US & More

IELTS, GRE, GMAT & More

Scholarship, Loans & Forex

Country Preference

New Zealand

Which English test are you planning to take?

Which academic test are you planning to take.

Not Sure yet

When are you planning to take the exam?

Already booked my exam slot

Within 2 Months

Want to learn about the test

Which Degree do you wish to pursue?

When do you want to start studying abroad.

January 2024

September 2024

What is your budget to study abroad?

a random act of kindness narrative essay

How would you describe this article ?

Please rate this article

We would like to hear more.

Have something on your mind?

a random act of kindness narrative essay

Make your study abroad dream a reality in January 2022 with

a random act of kindness narrative essay

India's Biggest Virtual University Fair

a random act of kindness narrative essay

Essex Direct Admission Day

Why attend .

a random act of kindness narrative essay

Don't Miss Out

Take control of your money! Save, budget and navigate your financies easier with AARP Money Map.

Popular Searches

AARP daily Crossword Puzzle

Hotels with AARP discounts

Life Insurance

AARP Dental Insurance Plans

Suggested Links

Red Membership Card

LIMITED TIME OFFER-Black Friday Sale

Join AARP for just $9 per year with a 5-year membership.Join now and get a FREE GIFT.

Help icon

  • right_container

Work & Jobs

Social Security

AARP en Español

Help icon

  • Membership & Benefits
  • AARP Rewards
  • AARP Rewards %{points}%

Conditions & Treatments

Drugs & Supplements

Health Care & Coverage

Health Benefits

woman and man working out at a gym

Staying Fit

Your Personalized Guide to Fitness

Hearing Resource Center

AARP Hearing Center

Ways To Improve Your Hearing

Woman with her hands on her lap and sitting on a couch

Mental Health Resources

Coping with Depression and Anxiety

illustration of woman drawing smile on face

Mental Health

25 Great Ways to Find Happiness

Scams & Fraud

Personal Finance

Money Benefits

zoomed in map of the united states with map locator pins scattered around

View and Report Scams in Your Area

Tax-Aide Group Illustration

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide

Free Tax Preparation Assistance

a man and woman at home looking at a laptop together

AARP Money Map

Get Your Finances Back on Track

a grouping of white appliances including refrigerator, oven, washing machine, microwave, vacuum, electric tea kettle, radiator

Budget & Savings

Make Your Appliances Last Longer

Small Business

Age Discrimination

at cashier smiles at a customer

Flexible Work

10 Part-Time Jobs to Beat Inflation

A woman smiling while sitting at a desk

AARP Skills Builder

Online Courses to Boost Your Career

An older women at a job interview with people looking at her resume

Age Proof Your Resume

a red and white illustration showing a woman in a monitor flanked by a word bubble and a calendar

Live Q&A

Tips to Enhance Your Job Search

green arrows pointing up overlaid on a Social Security check and card with two hundred dollar bills

Get More out of Your Benefits

A balanced scale with a clock on one side and a ball of money on the other, is framed by the outline of a Social Security card.

When to Start Taking Social Security

Mature couple smiling and looking at a laptop together

10 Top Social Security FAQs

Social security and calculator

Social Security Benefits Calculator

arrow shaped signs that say original and advantage pointing in opposite directions

Medicare Made Easy

Original vs. Medicare Advantage

illustration of people building a structure from square blocks with the letters a b c and d

Enrollment Guide

Step-by-Step Tool for First-Timers

the words inflation reduction act of 2022 printed on a piece of paper and a calculator and pen nearby

Prescription Drugs

9 Biggest Changes Under New Rx Law

A doctor helps his patient understand Medicare and explains all his questions and addresses his concerns.

Medicare FAQs

Quick Answers to Your Top Questions

Care at Home

Financial & Legal

Life Balance

Long-term care insurance information, form and stethoscope.

LONG-TERM CARE

​Understanding Basics of LTC Insurance​

illustration of a map with an icon of a person helping another person with a cane navigate towards caregiving

State Guides

Assistance and Services in Your Area

a man holding his fathers arm as they walk together outside

Prepare to Care Guides

How to Develop a Caregiving Plan

Close up of a hospice nurse holding the hands of one of her patients

End of Life

How to Cope With Grief, Loss

Recently Played

Word & Trivia

Atari® & Retro

Members Only

Staying Sharp

More About Games

AARP Right Again Trivia and AARP Rewards

Right Again! Trivia

AARP Right Again Trivia Sports and AARP Rewards

Right Again! Trivia – Sports

Atari, Centipede, Pong, Breakout, Missile Command Asteroids

Atari® Video Games

Throwback Thursday Crossword and AARP Rewards

Throwback Thursday Crossword

Travel Tips

Vacation Ideas

Destinations

Travel Benefits

a graphic of two surf boards in the sand on a beach in Hawaii.

Beach vacation ideas

Vacations for Sun and Fun

mary steenburgen jane fonda diane keaton and candice bergen taking a selfie in front of the trevi fountain in rome italy in the movie the book club two the next chapter

Follow the Set-Jetting Trend

left a bobcat at the arizona sonara desert museum right sunset skyline of downtown tucson arizona

AARP City Guide

Discover Tucson, Arizona

big cruise ship on water

AARP Smart Guide to Cruises

Tips for Planning, Packing and Landing

Entertainment & Style

Family & Relationships

Personal Tech

Home & Living

Celebrities

Beauty & Style

from left to right top to bottom killers of the flower moon then the color purple then oppenheimer then nyad then rustin then barbie

Movies for Grownups

Movies for Grownups Awards Winners

Carol Burnett in "Palm Royale," Kate Winslet in "The Regime," Hiroyuki Sanada in "Shōgun" and Sofia Vergara in "Griselda."

TV for Grownups

New Shows to Watch in 2024

watercolor illustration of a person in a green jacket and boots on a beach with two people and a headland in the distance; cover of ann cleeves' the raging storm overlaid on the illustration

Free Online Novel

Read 'The Raging Storm'

a person in bed giving a thumbs up

Sex & Dating

Spice Up Your Love Life

a woman holding onto a family tree when her branch has been cut off

Navigate All Kinds of Connections

illustration of person exercising in room with bookcase, chair with cat on it, end table, plant, treadmill, weight rack and workout bench

How to Create a Home Gym

a woman looks at her phone while taking her medication

Store Medical Records on Your Phone?

Close-up of Woman's hands plugging a mobile phone into a power bank  in a bar

Maximize the Life of Your Phone Battery

online dating safety tips

Virtual Community Center

Join Free Tech Help Events

a hygge themed living room

Create a Hygge Haven

from left to right cozy winter soups such as white bean and sausage soup then onion soup then lemon coriander soup

Soups to Comfort Your Soul

front exterior of home with colorful landscaping

AARP Smart Guide

38 Ways to Boost Home's Curb Appeal

Driver Safety

Maintenance & Safety

Trends & Technology

Tim Edmonson poses for a portrait next to his electric car charging station at his Castle Rock home

Is Now the Time to Buy an Electric Car?

Talk

We Need To Talk

Assess Your Loved One's Driving Skills

AARP

AARP Smart Driver Course

A woman using a tablet inside by a window

Building Resilience in Difficult Times

A close-up view of a stack of rocks

Tips for Finding Your Calm

A woman unpacking her groceries at home

Weight Loss After 50 Challenge

AARP Perfect scam podcast

Cautionary Tales of Today's Biggest Scams

Travel stuff on desktop: map, sun glasses, camera, tickets, passport etc.

7 Top Podcasts for Armchair Travelers

jean chatzky smiling in front of city skyline

Jean Chatzky: ‘Closing the Savings Gap’

a woman at home siting at a desk writing

Quick Digest of Today's Top News

A man and woman looking at a guitar in a store

AARP Top Tips for Navigating Life

two women exercising in their living room with their arms raised

Get Moving With Our Workout Series

You are now leaving AARP.org and going to a website that is not operated by AARP. A different privacy policy and terms of service will apply.

Go to Series Main Page

18 Ways to Spread Joy on Random Acts of Kindness Day – And Everyday

Kindness is simple and doesn’t have to require a lot of time, money or effort.

Jennifer Ortiz,

two people in the windows of an apartment building one is handing the other a cake

It starts raining on your walk to work and you didn’t bring an umbrella. You stop by your favorite cafe for a cup of Joe and spill coffee all over your sweater. Or maybe you just woke up on the wrong side of the bed.

Days are filled with challenging moments – big and small. Thankfully, there’s an antidote to all that negativity that’s easy and free: kindness . And with February 17 being National Random Acts of Kindness Day, it’s a great time to start!

Image Alt Attribute

AARP Membership

Join AARP for $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to  AARP The Magazine . 

“Kindness is uncomplicated,” says Stephen G. Post, director of the Center for Medical Humanities, Compassionate Care and Bioethics at Stony Brook School of Medicine in New York. “It doesn’t take much to be kind.”

And the best part: We all have kindness built in, says Post, 72, adding that babies show natural kindness as early as 6 months old.

As for the trope that the older we get the crankier we get, “I think that’s just a stereotype. I don’t believe it for a minute.” Older adults are often more dedicated to the well-being and happiness of others, “because they realize that their time is going short,” says Post. “And so in a lot of ways, mortality, I think, is the mother of kindness.”

Here is why kindness is good for everyone and 18 big and little ways to be kind.  

Kindness has all sorts of benefits

Kindness helps you live longer. A random act of kindness, however small, can have a positive health impact on both the recipient and the giver.

Much like sleep, exercise and diet, kindness should be factored into your day-to-day life as part of healthy living, as it’s rather important to survival, says Emiliana Simon-Thomas, the science director at UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center in Berkeley, California.

A 2023 study published in the Annals of Behavioral Medicine showed that engaging in “informal helping” (or random acts of kindness) is associated with decreased mortality.

Kindness “makes you live longer [and] makes you less vulnerable to the main kind of disease states that are of concern for Americans in later life,” says Simon-Thomas, 51.  

Kindness reduces negative emotions. Kindness has health benefits, but it also just feels good. In fact, Post says practicing or receiving kindness actually reduces negative emotions.

“Neurologically, when you’re kind, it actually turns off the neural circuits that are associated with negative emotions like hostility, anger, bitterness, resentment.”

newsletter-naw-tablet

AARP NEWSLETTERS

Mujer leyendo tableta

%{ newsLetterPromoText  }%

%{ description }%

Privacy Policy

ARTICLE CONTINUES AFTER ADVERTISEMENT

It can also bring about meaning and connection.

“When you help others, you cannot be lonely , by definition,” says Post. “Our communities benefit when older adults take it upon themselves to be role models for kindness. That’s the purpose of life in old age.” 

Kindness can help others feel more at ease. Post has spent his career studying and writing about compassionate care within the medical industry. He points to his own peer-reviewed research published in July 2023 that concludes that when doctors show basic kindness – by greeting a patient with a smile, asking questions about the patient’s daily life, listening carefully and appearing interested in the patient – it may improve the patient’s perception of their care. Bedside manners won’t cure someone of what ails them, but it can develop trust, says Post.

three people sharing umbrellas in the rain

How to integrate kindness into your every day

The receivers of kindness can range from strangers, family, friends and coworkers, and, yes, even ourselves. Here are a few ways to get started being kind to others:

Bring in your neighbor’s newspaper . If you’re already walking by their mailbox, you can take a minute of your day to bring your neighbor’s newspaper or mail to their front porch. (Plus, you’ll be adding to your step count .)

Ask someone what made them laugh .   We can all use a good laugh. Ask someone to   give details about the last thing that made them laugh out loud, Simon-Thomas suggests.

Be curious. Post says that by asking others how they’re feeling or how their family is doing, for example, you are showing kindness by showing you care.

Give a compliment. “Another easy go-to act of kindness is to offer a compliment,” even to people you don’t know well, says Simon-Thomas. Do you like their sweater? Say it – a compliment on someone’s attire is applauding a choice they made that day.

Send a sweet text. It feels good to receive a text from an old friend you haven’t heard from in a while. Simon-Thomas suggests taking it up a notch and sending your favorite poem to your friend.

Use snail mail to spread kindness. “Write a letter and mail it to a friend or family member,” Simon-Thomas says. It’s sure to lighten up the stack of bills and brighten someone’s day.

Be playful. Small talk doesn’t have to be humdrum. Consider making a lighthearted joke to lighten the mood in a conversation and to “move people out of their preoccupations,” Post says.

Hold the door. As mundane as it seems, taking a few seconds to hold the door for someone who is a bit further behind you, says Simon-Thomas, can make them feel acknowledged and like they belong.

membership-card-w-shadow-192x134

LEARN MORE ABOUT AARP MEMBERSHIP.

Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine.

Leave money behind for a stranger . Leaving money at a vending machine or on a counter for someone else to take advantage of is an anonymous way to be kind to a stranger, says Margaret Echelbarger, assistant professor of marketing at Stonybrook University, who researches prosociality (or behaviors we engage in that are intended to benefit others). You can also send funds to a distant friend or family member to treat themselves to a coffee.

Pay for the person behind you in line . If you’re in a busy drive-through, picking up the tab for the order behind you can cause a chain reaction of kindness. The recipient could be having a great day already and decide to also pay for the person behind them, “or it can really pull someone up who just really needed it in that moment,” says Echelbarger.

Target Optical

50% off additional pairs of eyeglasses and $10 off eyewear and contacts

Give a gift certificate to a bonding experience. “Give someone a gift certificate for a shared outing – like a walk together and snacks,” suggests Simon-Thomas.

Give a coupon book for different chores . Take a load off of someone’s busy schedule by offering to do a chore for them. “Tell someone that you want to be kind, but let them pick the timing of that kindness,” says Echelbarger.

Get active-ist. Simon-Thomas says taking part in causes you care about is good for you and your neighbors, whether you encourage your neighbors to register to vote or you become an activist for another cause you care about.

Plant trees or free little libraries . Kindness in public spaces, like planting trees or establishing – or adding to – free little libraries can benefit more than one person at a time. Echelbarger calls free little libraries “one of the most sustainable forms of kindness that I have seen in my own life. And I love walking by them putting books in them myself.”

Do an outdoor chore for someone . Echelbarger says picking up trash from a neighbor’s yard or shoveling their driveway is a kind helping hand. “Sometimes when people have snowblowers, they will go down their whole block because it’s so easy for them,” says Echelbarger. “They’re really taking a load off some of their neighbors.”

And here are a few ways to be kind to yourself

Take a breather. It sounds rudimentary, but it triggers calm and rest in your nervous system and signals to your body that you’re safe and provided for, Simon-Thomas says. “Being able to walk through the world with that mindset is a greater contribution to your overall well-being and your capacity to interact with other people in friendly and generous ways.”

Reflect on what brings you solitary joy and do it. Whether it’s knitting, jigsaw puzzles or something else, indulge in what brings you joy. Simon-Thomas says she likes to spend time noticing the little things in her garden: the blooming flowers, the caterpillar munching on a leaf. “I do that as an act of kindness, spontaneously,” she says, adding that tapping into that awareness, “invites my mind to see things in a more curious and kind of wonder-infusing way.”

Schedule time for self-care . Whether it’s a massage, a haircut, or just a coffee date with a yummy treat and your gratitude journal , Simon-Thomas says “those are wonderful ways to just bring in little moments of joy that can be a big contributor to your overall health and well-being.”

Jennifer Ortiz is an associate editor at aarp.org. She previously covered personal finance, careers and other consumer topics as an editor at  U.S. News & World Report  and was a news writer and editor at WTOP News in Washington, D.C.

Discover AARP Members Only Access

Already a Member? Login

newsletter-naw-tablet

More From AARP

a hand with red nail polish holding a four leaf clover

How to Catch ‘Lucky Girl Syndrome’ and Why You’d Want to

Anyone can benefit from this power-of-positive-thinking trend

volunteers tutoring students in classroom

6 Ways Kindness Is Good for You

How helping others can help improve your health

woman holding a puppy

9 Habits for Happiness

Easy ways to spark joy today

Recommended for You

AARP Value & Member Benefits

man sitting on bench looking at phone with bicycle standing in front of him

Member Benefits Text Alerts

Unlock more value: Get updates and be the first to know about new benefits

man sitting on couch looking at woman sitting on floor in living room during day time

ADT™ Home Security

Savings on monthly home security monitoring

Man woman laughing at tablet

AARP Virtual Community Center

Free online events and classes designed for learning and fun

couple on couch looking at tablet

AARP® Staying Sharp®

Activities, recipes, challenges and more with full access to AARP Staying Sharp®

SAVE MONEY WITH THESE LIMITED-TIME OFFERS

Logo

Essay on Random Act Of Kindness

Students are often asked to write an essay on Random Act Of Kindness in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Random Act Of Kindness

What is a random act of kindness.

A random act of kindness is a selfless act performed by a person wishing to either help or cheer up an individual person or people. They may be done secretly or in person. They are small gestures that brighten someone’s day.

Why are Random Acts of Kindness Important?

Random acts of kindness are important because they remind us of the goodness in the world. They make us feel good and inspire others to do the same. It’s like a chain of positivity that spreads happiness.

Examples of Random Acts of Kindness

Examples can be as simple as holding the door open for someone, helping an elderly person cross the street, or sharing your lunch with a friend. These acts, though small, can make a big difference.

Benefits of Random Acts of Kindness

Doing random acts of kindness can make you feel happy and satisfied. It can also improve your relationships with others. Plus, it creates a positive environment where everyone feels loved and cared for.

Encouraging Random Acts of Kindness

We can encourage more random acts of kindness by leading by example. When we do kind things for others, they are more likely to do the same. Let’s make the world a kinder place, one act at a time.

250 Words Essay on Random Act Of Kindness

A random act of kindness is a selfless act performed by a person wishing to either help or cheer up an individual person or people. The phrase is ‘random’ because it refers to acts that are not planned in advance or have an expected reward.

These acts can be big or small, and they often come in many forms. For example, you might help an old lady cross the road, or you might share your lunch with a friend who forgot theirs. Sometimes, even a simple smile can make someone’s day better.

The Impact of Random Acts of Kindness

These small acts can make a big difference. They can make someone feel happy, loved, and important. Plus, they can inspire others to do the same. This is called the ‘ripple effect’. It’s like when you throw a stone in a pond. The ripples spread out and reach far.

Why We Should Practice Random Acts of Kindness

Practicing random acts of kindness can make our world a better place. It teaches us to be kind, caring, and understanding. It also makes us feel good about ourselves. Plus, it can make someone else’s day a little bit brighter.

In conclusion, a random act of kindness is a simple but powerful way to show kindness to others. It’s a small thing that can make a big difference. So, let’s all try to do one random act of kindness each day. It’s a small step that can lead to a big change.

500 Words Essay on Random Act Of Kindness

A random act of kindness is a selfless act done by a person to either help or cheer up a random stranger, for no reason other than to make people happier. It could be small, like giving up your seat on a bus to someone else, or big, like helping someone with their groceries. The idea is to be kind without expecting anything in return.

Random acts of kindness are important because they remind us of our shared humanity. They show us that even in our busy lives, we can still make a positive impact on others. They make our world a better place by creating a chain of good deeds. When we do something kind for someone, they might feel inspired to do the same for others. This way, the kindness spreads.

There are many ways to perform random acts of kindness. You can pay for the meal of the person behind you in a fast-food line. You can send a thank you note to your teacher or coach. You can help an elderly person cross the street. You can donate your old books to a local library. You can even simply smile at a stranger. These acts, no matter how small, can make someone’s day better.

Doing random acts of kindness benefits not just the receiver, but the giver too. When we do something kind for someone else, it makes us feel good about ourselves. It boosts our self-esteem and makes us feel happier. It also helps us feel more connected to others, which can reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation.

Encouraging Random Acts of Kindness in Schools

Schools can play a big role in encouraging random acts of kindness. They can start a ‘kindness week’ where students are encouraged to do kind things for each other. They can also have a ‘kindness tree’ where students can write down their acts of kindness and hang them on the tree. This not only promotes kindness, but also creates a positive and supportive school environment.

In conclusion, random acts of kindness are small actions that can make a big difference in our world. They can help spread positivity, make people feel good, and create a sense of community. So, the next time you have the chance, do a random act of kindness. You never know how much it might mean to someone.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

  • Essay on Rats
  • Essay on Reading
  • Essay on Readers Are Leaders

Apart from these, you can look at all the essays by clicking here .

Happy studying!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Celebrate the power of good deeds on National Random Acts of Kindness Day

a random act of kindness narrative essay

Random acts of kindness make the world a better place. Of course, every day is a good day for a gesture of kindness, but sometimes we all need a little nudge, and that's why National Random Acts of Kindness Day was born.

Each year, on February 17, people are encouraged to celebrate kindness and pay it forward in whatever way possible. The idea was the brainchild of the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation , which created the inaugural celebration in 1995.

"We feel good when we hear, see, and read about people doing good things, and we want to make that more of our lives," said Brooke Jones, vice president of the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation.

"There are horrible things happening all over the place, but there are also really beautiful things happening," Jones told USA TODAY. "It's what you choose to focus on."

Watch the video above to see how a delivery driver's random act of kindness made a teenager's day.

The kindness initiative originated in the San Francisco Bay area more than 40 years ago in response to an article by journalist Anne Herbert entitled Random Kindness and Senseless Acts of Beauty . Herbert died in 2015, but her legacy lives on in an annual day of celebration in the U.S. that is also observed in New Zealand.

Humankind is your go-to spot for good news! Click here to submit your uplifting, cute, or inspiring video moments for us to feature. Also, click here to subscribe to our newsletter , bringing our top stories of the week straight to your inbox.

IMAGES

  1. Kindness Essay

    a random act of kindness narrative essay

  2. essayedy: Kindness essay examples

    a random act of kindness narrative essay

  3. An Act of Random Kindness Essay Example

    a random act of kindness narrative essay

  4. 50 Best Random Acts of Kindness For Kids

    a random act of kindness narrative essay

  5. Kindness Essay

    a random act of kindness narrative essay

  6. Essay on Kindness in English

    a random act of kindness narrative essay

COMMENTS

  1. Act of Kindness Essay

    Act of Kindness Essay Cite This Essay Download Introduction "Can you recall a time somebody was kind to you? Now change the scenario and think of a time you were kind to another person. Call to mind their reaction and how you responded. Move into your heart and notice the feelings there." — Tony Fahkry

  2. Acts of Kindness: Narrative Writing

    Narrative, or narration, "wraps" the issue or thesis around a character or story. "Acts of Kindness" is an example. I could have written a well-researched essay about various and random acts of kindness; but which would have the desired emotional impact on an audience?

  3. A Random Act of Kindness

    A Random Act of Kindness - An Essay by Source on March 3, 2011 · 12 comments in Culture, Life Events Editor: This post has received a lot of attention recently, so we decided to bring it back up. By Shirley Sprinkles, Ph.D She handed me a five dollar bill through the car window, then turned and walked away.

  4. Kindness: Free Narrative Essay Samples and Examples

    Drowsy and having no enthusiasm about working on a Wednesday, he left his claustrophobic-inducing apartment, and wormed his way into a crowded, sultry bus, dozing off while leaning against a sweaty handrail. In his dream, he was lying on a river shore, unemployed, but free. JOIN OUR LEARNING HUB One-stop solution for all your homework needs.

  5. Acts of Kindness Essay

    Professor Lutsky PSYC 103- 15t h April 2019 Random Acts of Kindness Amelia Mary Earhart, an American aviation pioneer and author once wrote, "A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees. The greatest work that kindness does to others is that it makes them kind themselves".

  6. Why Random Acts of Kindness Matter to Your Well-being

    It can release neurochemicals that result in a sense of well-being, the "helper's high," as Allan Luks and Peggy Payne describe the healing power of doing good. In fact, the neural circuits ...

  7. A Random Act of Kindness: Experiencing the Goodness of Humanity

    One such act that left a lasting impression on me was a random act of kindness I experienced a few years ago. In this short essay, I will recount this heartwarming incident and reflect on the profound impact it had on both the giver and the receiver.

  8. The Unexpected Power of Random Acts of Kindness

    The Unexpected Power of Random Acts of Kindness. New research shows small gestures matter even more than we may think. In late August, Erin Alexander, 57, sat in the parking lot of a Target store ...

  9. Random Acts of Kindness: List of 99+ Ideas & Examples

    Here's an activity that may help you engage in random acts of kindness. Get started by 1.) setting a clear goal, 2.) committing to your goal in writing, and 3.) creating implementation intentions, or a "plan B", to stay on track with your goals.

  10. Acts of Kindness: Importance of Being Kind

    These acts of kindness are not only about being polite, but also encompass supporting others, aiding in boosting their self-confidence, being present during times of need, offering emotional support, and providing encouragement and motivation. When one consistently engages in acts of kindness, it becomes effortless to utter positive words and ...

  11. Random Acts of Kindness (600 Words)

    Random Acts of Kindness Category:, , , , Last Updated: Pages: Download During one of my Online Facebook sessions, I was watching a video on random acts of kindness called "Validation", it reminded me that performing random acts of kindness like simply complimenting people is something that I need to incorporate more into my life on a regular basis.

  12. {TEXTBOOK} One Day At A Time Francis Kong

    Press published Random Acts of Kindness, and launched a simple movement—of people being kind to one another in their daily lives. Now the editors of Conari Press have compiled Random Acts of Kindness Then and Now, which includes the ... But in recent years this narrative has been upended. In June 2012, violence between Buddhists and Muslims ...

  13. Personal Narrative: An Act Of Kindness

    Tools Filter Results One of the earliest times that I remember committing an act of kindness was the one that made my mother the most proud. I was in the fourth grade and considering that I had just moved to a new school, I wasn't exactly the most extroverted person in my grade level.

  14. Psychology Paper

    " (Leo F. Buscaglia) A simple act of kindness can ease one's fears, touch one's heart, and rekindle one's faith in humanity. Kind behavior is among one of the most significant features a human can possess, however, as our lives become cluttered with all the burdens of our society, it becomes easy to lose track of what we live for.

  15. The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation

    The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation | Kindness Stories Kindness Starts With One ® One smile. One hug. One cup of coffee. One person... Do you have someone in your life who inspired you to be a better person? Did you witness an act of kindness that left an impression? Share your kindness story with the world. Tell Us Your Kindness Story

  16. Essay On Kindness in English for Students

    500 Words Essay On Kindness. The world we live in today has been through a lot of things from world wars to epidemics, but one thing which remained constant throughout was resilience and kindness. Moreover, it was the spirit to fight back and help out each other. Kindness must be an essential and universal quality to make the world a better place.

  17. 30 Stories on Kindness

    Here are 30 stories on kindness that touched your lives—and our hearts. A couple of years ago, I stumbled off the subway in Upper Manhattan, exhausted after a long and stressful day at work ...

  18. Essay on Kindness: Samples in 100, 150 and 200 Words

    Essay on Kindness in 200 Words. Kindness is one of the most important qualities which people should have. This is very important to create a more compassionate and harmonious world. The simple act of being considerate towards others and not expecting anything in return is kindness. The word 'kindness' can be expressed in many different ways.

  19. 18 Ways to Be Kind on Random Acts of Kindness Day

    A random act of kindness, however small, can have a positive health impact on both the recipient and the giver. Much like sleep, exercise and diet, kindness should be factored into your day-to-day life as part of healthy living, as it's rather important to survival, says Emiliana Simon-Thomas, the science director at UC Berkeley's Greater ...

  20. Power of Kindness: Transforming Relationships and Lives

    Kindness begets Kindness: A Tale of Hans and Gretel Brinker in 1840s Holland Pages: 2 (459 words) The Science of Kindness - Random Acts of Kindness Pages: 2 (435 words) The Power of Volunteering: Transforming Communities and Lives Pages: 3 (686 words) The Dual Impact of Gadgets: Transforming Lives and Posing Risks Pages: 4 (1109 words)

  21. Essay on Random Act Of Kindness

    A random act of kindness is a selfless act performed by a person wishing to either help or cheer up an individual person or people. They may be done secretly or in person. They are small gestures that brighten someone's day. Why are Random Acts of Kindness Important?

  22. Watch a random act of kindness make the world a better place

    The kindness initiative originated in the San Francisco Bay area more than 40 years ago in response to an article by journalist Anne Herbert entitled Random Kindness and Senseless Acts of Beauty ...

  23. Personal Narrative: The First Random Acts Of Kindness

    The short story"Aha Moment" by Julia Alvarez demonstrates that the point is not to pay back kindness but to pass it on. The story expresses the idea that simple acts of kindness can make a great impact on people both mentally and physically. It can turn frightening and tense situations into assurance and aplomb.