With Thanksgiving around the corner, we at the RAK Experience have been thinking a lot about what we are grateful for and brainstorming fun and creative ways to express our gratitude. Random Acts of Kindness (RAKs) are kind of our thing and there are so many RAKs you can do to tell somebody “Thank You”.
Showing gratitude is a proven way to make you feel happier, increase your self-esteem, improve your relationships, and all kinds of other really great things! It also makes the person you are thanking feel special and appreciated as well. We could all use more of that.
Whether it’s a teacher, a sibling, or a server at your favorite restaurant, here are 15 ways to give thanks this holiday season:
Saying thank you and expressing your gratitude is an important practice for you and everyone around you. If you find yourself traveling around the world, we are going to send you off with how to say thank you in 10 different languages so you always know how to say “thanks!”.
Spanish – Gracias
French - Merci
Italian - Grazie
Japanese - Domo Arigato
Mandarin - Xièxiè nǐ
German - Danke schön
Thai - Khob khun ka (female) Khob khun krap (male)
Hawaiian - Mahalo
Hebrew - Toda
Hindi - Dhanyavaad
Have you ever tried to carry out a random act of kindness and been met with suspicion, skepticism, or just been downright rejected? This is actually very normal. Psychologists have done studies that showed that this is often the case. When people were met with a random act of kindness many of them believed there was a catch or even that there was mal-intent behind the act. As humans we are not always prepared for a stranger to do something kind for us and a lot of the time it puts us on guard.
This skepticism is a reflection of our society but it shouldn’t discourage you. The more kindness that is spread, the more accepting people will be of it. It will create a Domino Effect of random acts of kindness. Sometimes the best way to start out is with baby steps. Here are three easy and simple RAK’s that will very likely not be met with suspicion because we have to start somewhere!
We’ve all been there. Traffic is backed up as everyone tries to merge into one lane. People are frustrated. People are stressed. So often, a car is trying their best to merge but no one will let them in and so they are waiting for car after car for someone to let them over. Be that someone. Slow down and let them merge. It’s a free, small, and simple random act of kindness that can really alleviate stress for a stranger.
Shelters and food pantries are always in need of warm clothes and staple food items to help those in need. Go through your clothes and donate what you no longer need or use. You can do the same with your pantry and canned items or take a trip to the grocery store and pick up items from a local food pantry’s most needed list. This act of kindness will go a long way in making sure people who are struggling receive the basic care that they need.
Gather your friends and family for a day of picking up litter whether it be around your neighborhood, at the beach, a park, or anywhere else you can think of. This is a great way to spend time outside while also doing an awesome random act of kindness that affects the whole community and the planet.
We are all about Random Acts of Kindness so have made it even easier to spread RAKs! On our website, you can build a RAK box full of goodies to send to a stranger. Just select Anonymous RAK at checkout. We will pair your donation with someone from our RAK nominee list. You will receive an email once you have been paired to let you know your RAK is being sent out into the world!
Now that you’re feeling inspired go out there and fight the skepticism by RAKing The Planet
