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Here we go! 31 days of kindness starting July 15, 2014.

We have more than 725+ people on board who, collectively, will do more than 3,100 acts of kindness in 31 days! AWESOME!

First time you are hearing about this? Still join in and take the challenge, we hope you will!

How it works: Each day we do one act of kindness listed below and use #31DaysofKindness  to share, comment and connect with others who are taking part in the challenge.

Make sure to post photos and share updates because at the end I will collect photos and make us a HUGE collage to share with everyone who participated! You can also share this with your friends, family and neighbors to get them on board! The more we have join, the more good we do as a group! So share away!

Our goal is to retrain our brain to remember to be kind to others on a daily basis and to show the world we can do BIG things when you join together. So are you ready for the 31 Days of Kindness Challenge? Refer back to this post to see what each day looks like. Let’s make a difference in the lives of thousands and here… we… go…

DAY 1 (July 15th) – Write one handwritten thank you letter
The hardest part about this act of kindness might be to remember where your stamps are or to drive to the post office to get them. Take time to get a letter written and sent out to someone in your circle of friends, family or community who you can encourage, inspire or thank! 

DAY 2 – Pick up a piece of trash
There is always trash on the ground and we can do something about it! Think what would happen if everyone picked up one piece of trash everyday? Let’s keep our eyes peeled for what piece of trash we can pick up to clean up our streets, sidewalks or neighborhood!

DAY 3 – Buy someone coffee/tea or a drink
Most of us take time out of our day to go and grab a drink of coffee, tea or late night drink. Take the time to buy the person’s coffee behind you. If you don’t drink coffee or tea, pull through a drive though coffee shop pay $3 for the person behind you and drive away! See how good you feel!

DAY 4 – Pass along an article to a friend who could benefit from it
Have you read a great article recently that you know could benefit a close friend, peer or family member? Take time to show you care by sending them an article with an email to say “Hey, saw this and was thinking about you. Thought you would enjoy it.” Please don’t send one of those obnoxious FWDs. Send an article that adds real value to their life. 

DAY 5 – Give a hug to someone who could really use it
We could all use a hug from time to time. Scope out someone you know who could use a hug and give them a good ole bear squeeze to say you were thinking of them and hope they are having a great day!

DAY 6 – Pick something up that has fallen down
If you are walking down the street and see one of those fallen sandwich boards or you are in the grocery store and see something that fell off the shelf, find a way to put it back up! This might encourage others to do the same when they see you going out of your way to do something kind for others!

DAY 7 – PICK YOUR OWN
Today is the day we choose any act of kindness we want to do. You can pick up trash, write a letter, donate money or time; anything that classifies an act of kindness to you! Make sure to use the #31Daysof hashtag and post a photo to share on your social media accounts and let us know what you are doing! 

DAY 8 –  (July 22nd) Give a book to a friend
Is there a book that has been sitting on your shelf you have not read in a while that could benefit someone else? Maybe you love books and want to send a new copy to a friend. Grab a book off the shelf or online and give it to a friend who could benefit from reading it!

DAY 9 – Apologize to someone you know you should
This one is tough but we never said this challenge would be easy. Let’s be kind today by apologizing to someone we know we have hurt or wronged in the past by either sending them an email, calling them on the phone or telling them in person.

DAY 10 – Buy someone their lunch, breakfast or dinner
This can be planned or it can be spontaneous. Maybe you buy the person’s sandwich behind you in line or you make an extra plate for a co-worker who you know loves your home cooking! 

DAY 11 – Leave a $2 bill on the ground and watch them pick it up
This is one of the best and most interesting acts of kindness we will do. First off, go to your local bank and ask for a $2 (they will love you for taking those off their hands). Then go and place it somewhere a random person will see it and pick it up. You might be surprised by how many people walk by it before one person notices it!

DAY 12 – Lend your skills/services for free (answer questions)
There are several ways you can do this. Use the #question on Twitter or Facebook. Post on your social media that you can help BLANK with BLANK and the first person to reach out gets BLANK minutes of support. Go and volunteer for an hour or put your skills to the test. This one will make you think and question, what value can I add to others and who can use my skills/services? 

DAY 13 – Donate at least one piece of clothing
I will be the first to admit I have WAY too many clothes (yes, even more than my wife Chelsea). There are clothes that I don’t wear anymore and could benefit others. What is in your closet that you can donate to a local shelter or Goodwill and have someone else get benefit from your amazing fashion sense?

DAY 14 – Create a care package for a soldier
I invite you to take time and invite others to join in especially your family or friends to help you with this one. You don’t need to spend a lot of money (you don’t even need to spend money at all). You can write letters, send candy or books and so much more. Here is a good site to use called Any Soldier. If you are outside of the USA, see what your government allows and how you can support your troops. Give thanks to those who provide us with our everyday freedoms. 

DAY 15 – PICK YOUR OWN
Today is the day we choose any act of kindness we want to do. You can pick up trash, write a letter, donate money or time; anything that classifies an act of kindness to you! Make sure to use the #31Daysof hashtag and post a photo to share on your social media accounts and let us know what you are doing! 

DAY 16 – (JULY 30th) Write a comment on someone’s blog
I have been blogging for a little over four years now and I still get butterflies when people comment on my posts. Take time to comment on one of your favorite up and coming bloggers to let the writer know you are listening and you enjoy their writing (Note: for this act of kindness, you can’t comment on this blog, you have to go and comment on someone else’s!). 

DAY 17 – Send a nice email to a company
We might take the time to send a complaint to a company who did us wrong but how often do we send an email or letter to a company who we appreciate is doing the right thing or treating their customers with respect? Send a nice email thanking that company for what they do, the products they offer and services they provide! 

DAY 18 – Bring snacks to work to share
Oh this is my favorite because my wife is my only co-worker and she is participating in this challenge with us! I hope she bakes something good! Take time to make something homemade or go to the store and grab something for your fellow co-workers. If you are unemployed at the time, go and bring a snack to a friend or a nearby office (shoot, even deliver snacks to the office where you want to work!). 

DAY 19 – Introduce yourself to a stranger
Say hi to someone you walk by. Sit next to someone else at lunch. I bet there might be people at your office you don’t know fully, say hi and introduce yourself.  A hi can go a long way!

DAY 20 – Hold the door for someone
This one is another tricky one because we have to be on the look out all day for this opportunity. Take the time to look around for when someone might need the door opened for them. Smile, maybe give them a high five and do it as many times as you can! 

DAY 21 – Donate a used book to the library
Your local library could really enjoy some of your old childhood books or best-sellers that you never read anymore. Children, adults and teens can really benefit from those books we don’t use so select some off the shelf, drive by your local library and donate them!

DAY 22 – PICK YOUR OWN
Today is the day we choose any act of kindness we want to do. You can pick up trash, write a letter, donate money or time; anything that classifies an act of kindness to you! Make sure to use the #31Daysof hashtag and post a photo to share on your social media accounts and let us know what you are doing! 

DAY 23 – (August 6th) Recycle something
It blows my mind how many people still do not recycle! This is one of the easiest ways to give back and be kind to our environment. Take time to recycle and if you don’t have recycling at your office or home, what can you do today to help make that a reality in your area? 

DAY 24 – Support local
Instead of grabbing a bite at Subway or getting a few items at your local Target, stop by a local shop and support your community entrepreneurs by eating at a local restaurant or buying what you need at a local shop

DAY 25 – Leave a 100% tip
This one will make your day! It does not have to be on a $50 meal. It can be on a $2 coffee you buy or $8 lunch you purchase. Leave that 100% tip and talk about doing a HUGE act of kindness. Those waiters will be talking about that for a while and you spread more kindness that way because they in turn go and talk about what just happened to their friends and family! 

DAY 26 – Leave a fun treat for your mail carrier in your mail box
I would recommend nothing that can melt in the southern states this summer but pick something that is fun, sweet and says thank you! You can even write a note letting them know how much you appreciate always delivering your mail. 

DAY 27 – Compliment a stranger
Walk by and complement a stranger on what they are wearing, their hair or smile. Bonus points if you give them a high five when you walk by!

DAY 28 – Donate at least $5 to an organization you have never donated to
Research a cause you believe in and donate five dollars to their mission. It might not sound like a lot but those little donations add up for organizations and can be a big benefit if a lot of people do this. When 100+ of us do this, we will have given more than $500 collectively today to good causes around the world! 

DAY 29 – Give thanks to one community servant you don’t personally know
Is there a firefighter, police office, civic servant or someone in your community who is adding value to your community that you need to thank? Go to their office, write them a letter or give them a call to say thank you for all they do to make our community safe!

DAY 30 – PICK YOUR OWN
Today is the day we choose any act of kindness we want to do. You can pick up trash, write a letter, donate money or time; anything that classifies an act of kindness to you! Make sure to use the #31Daysof hashtag and post a photo to share on your social media accounts and let us know what you are doing! 

DAY 31 – (August 14th) PICK YOUR FAVORITE TO DO AGAIN
What has been your favorite act of kinds so far? Repeat that one today and go BIG! How can you make this one BIGGER and BETTER than the last time you did it? Make sure to use the #31Daysof hashtag and post a photo to share on your social media accounts and let us know what you are doing! 

When we do all of this, imagine what we will have accomplished together as a team! Let’s spread the word! Think you know others who would like to join us?

Ryan Avery

Author Ryan Avery

Hi, my name is Ryan Avery! Every Sunday I share the "notes" I use to build my keynotes. They are personal stories and tangible strategies we can use to improve the way we communicate at work, at home and with ourselves.

More posts by Ryan Avery

Join the discussion 42 Comments

  • Oh Ryan, I just love, love, love this idea!

    I so applaud you for this important effort!

    Count me in, but please note that since I like freedom, I’m going to create my own schedule and use your ideas as guidance, but I’ll definitely do one kind thing a day — just the thing that strikes me as important.

    I may even do two kind things a day!

    For instance, today, I’ll write that thank you letter I’ve been delaying sending and then mail the check to that valuable non-profit organization. (I’ve been planning on doing this for a while.)

    Also, I already have two big bags full of clothes to donate, but one bag will go to a friend who helped me so much during My Dark Night of the Soul after my mother’s death. .

    Love your other ideas, too!!

    Please see this, too — http://www.sugarshockblog.com/2014/07/join-the-31-days-of-kindness-and-sweetness-campaign.html

    Good luck with this fabulous challenge!

    Connie

  • Audrey Butler says:

    Ryan,

    I love this idea! I am going to share this with my fellow Toastmasters Club – Impressive Revenue Speakers to join me in this effort! Looking forward to the 31 days challenge!

  • Ryan Avery says:

    That is great to hear Audrey! Please share away and let’s get as many people as we can to join in! The more Toastmasters we get involved also means the more we have people talking about it 🙂 Glad you are jointing us for the challenge!

  • Ryan Avery says:

    Hey Connie, I am so glad you like the idea and it is cool to see how many people we have on board doing the challenge! Thank you so much for sharing your post and that is a great angle to take as well! Glad to have you part of the challenge! Thanks Connie!

  • gwyn says:

    YAY! Great Challenge!, I am totally in.

  • Ryan Avery says:

    Awesome Gwyn! So glad to hear you are on board! This will be a fun 31 days!

  • Renayka Johnson says:

    This sounds AWESOME!

  • Ryan Avery says:

    So glad you like it and awesome you are part of it! 🙂 Let the challenge begin!

  • maureen shaffer says:

    #31 days of kindness

  • Ryan Avery says:

    Glad to have you on board Maureen! 🙂

  • I will do my best to take part in every day when possible!

  • I am all over this. Starting tomorrow and loving it.

  • Ryan Avery says:

    Awesome! So glad you are with us Kimberley 🙂

  • Ryan Avery says:

    Awesome! You can do it Larry!

  • Janice Hallmark says:

    Ryan, I wrote my thank you note [on a Toastmaster card] and put it in the mail. It was a long overdue thank you. I’m grateful for this challenge. It changed my ‘shoulda’ into I did. I’m looking forward to the rest of the month’s activities.

  • Ryan Avery says:

    Awesome Janice! You rock and so glad you are joining us. Remember the challenge starts on the 15th (tomorrow) so you might have to write another thank you letter 🙂

  • Ruth Field Beck says:

    Hi Connie,

    I like your idea. It will be interesting and encouraging to see the journeys we take as individuals and as a collective group during this event.

    Best Regards,
    Ruth Field Beck

  • Ruth Field Beck says:

    Hi Janice,

    I like your comment. I think one of the best parts about being kind to others is the kindness we are showing ourselves at the same time by setting ourselves free from the residue of the shoulda syndrome.

    Best Regards,
    Ruth Field Beck

  • Ruth Field Beck says:

    I think it is important to remember that these acts of kindness do not have to cost money, just a little time and the willingness to care and invest time in others. For example, if you do not have money for stamps for tomorrow, post a love or friendship message on any social media site or send an email or call someone. We all know someone who needs encouragement or a reminder of how much they inspire us. It can even be a message of thanks for Ryan and Chelsea for organizing this for us. For the day where the kindness is buying someone a cup of tea or coffee, we can even share a packet of tea or instant coffee and offering to get someone hot water. That would be a great service at work.

    Best Regards,
    Ruth Field Beck

  • Raynie Hosto says:

    I am super excited to be a part of this!

    I have so much to look forward to for the next 31 days and beyond. It will be very interesting because I am traveling for work during this timeframe and I am jazzed to reach beyond my local community. I am envisioning a $2 bill in an airport. Will be fun!

    Thanks for the inspiration, Ryan!

  • Ryan Avery says:

    Awesome! So glad you are joining in with us! Can’t wait to see your photos and make sure to share them with us using the #31DaysofKindness 🙂

  • Kapil Patel says:

    A kind act is 1000 times better than a kind word. I am already in. 1st day was so much fun. Hope this 31 days of kindness become a new habit. Few things I do it but interesting to learn new ways of kindness. I thought I will be spending lots of time or money in this. But it seems you do not need either. All you need is a heart with love, passion and intention to do better for this world.
    Lets join this kindness campaign, reignite kindness, share with others and make a difference.

    1st Day: https://www.facebook.com/kapilrpatel/posts/10152348798349807

    Loving it and looking forward to it everyday. Thanks Ryan for coming up with this and making it happen.

  • Rose Beeson says:

    I am in!

  • Ryan Avery says:

    Awesome Rose! 🙂 Glad to have you on board with us! Remember to use the #31DaysofKindness when posting photos 🙂

  • Ryan Avery says:

    Awesome Kapil and thank you for sharing your photo! That is the goal of this challenge is to retrain our brain into thinking of doing kind things everyday! Way to go and looking forward to seeing your photos throughout the next month. Glad you are with us on this challenge 🙂

  • Pam Davis says:

    I’m on board! I love this idea.

  • Talisia says:

    I have started and I mailed my thank you letter to my mom.

    Day 1 completed!!!!!

  • Donna Nusslein says:

    Awesome Idea Ryan! We are constantly bombarded with negative news and issues – this is a great way to pay if forward and keep a positive attitude.

  • Ryan Avery says:

    So glad you like it Donna and can’t wait to see your photos with the #31DaysofKindness hashtag 🙂

  • Ryan Avery says:

    Way to go Talisia!!!! So glad you are with us on this Challenge!

  • Ryan Avery says:

    AWESOME! Thanks Pam and great to have you on board! 🙂

  • Pamela S Christopher says:

    I am excited about this challenge. Thank you for the idea. PC

  • Ryan Avery says:

    So glad you will join us for this Pamela! We are going to have an exciting 31 days ahead of us 🙂

  • Kim Chin says:

    Count me in!! What a fabulous way to be a positive part of the community!!

  • Ryan Avery says:

    Yea Kim Chin!!!! So glad you are with us! You are going to have great pictures I just know it 🙂

  • This is such a great idea. On a daily basis we’re inudated with all the negative that’s happening it’s a great way to give positive feedback and to bring joy to someone else. On Tuesday, July15th I provided lunch for my co-worker.

  • Ryan Avery says:

    Awesome Carita, way to go and thanks for joining in on this challenge with us 🙂

  • Cindy Adams says:

    7/22 Day 8 what a day to give a book and if you do not have a friend just set it loose into the wild. Just leave it in a shop or on a bench for a stranger to enjoy. Waht a fun find:)

  • Ryan Avery says:

    What a great idea Cindy! Thank you for sharing 🙂

  • Andres Irigoyen-Au says:

    Ryan,

    You have inspired me to be a kinder person. I hope that I am fortunate enough to inspire others as much as you have inspired me.

    -Andres Irigoyen-Au

  • Karen says:

    Hi Ryan.

    I am hoping you will leave this up for awhile. I just gave a speech this afternoon about your challenge (and what it has meant for me). Lots of people are interested in learning more–and even doing it. In fact, I was invited to speak at another group in a few days to present the same speech and issue the challenge to them.

    Look what good has become of this challenge! You started with a few people, which grew to a few hundred. Now we will get the next wave going!!

    Karen

  • Ryan Avery says:

    Hey Karen! I will for sure leave it up. Great idea and thanks for giving a speech about it. Cool to think of where this could go and how many people we can get doing kind acts all around the world 🙂

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