The True Power in Simple Acts of Kindness

I am just an average teenage girl, living the averageknow and smile at them. Smiles are truly contagious.
life of a very busy high school student trying toYou could also just give out compliments to people.
survive junior year. However, I do not view theThe thing that first started me thinking about all of
world and my relationships as an average anything.this was these kindness coins I got from someone at
As a small child, I was always truly happy and madeHeritage Square. They are little plastic coins that say
the absolute best out of every situation naturally. Icute kindness sayings on them. I got mine for giving
found every excuse to smile which formed thea tip to the lady at the photo shop, and then I was
personality and reputation I have today. Today, thissupposed to pass it on to someone that I saw doing
great happiness and joy of life just isn't naturallysomething kind. I really thought this was neat and I
there anymore. I still try to make the best out ofended up ordering more of those coins from Oriental
every situation, but that's just it, I have to try at it.Trading and passed them out to the student council,
From my experience, as you get older, the worldwhich I'm a part of at my school. After this, I have
around you truly isn't as kind to you and, naturally,been noticing acts of kindness and I'm always trying
the worst is expected of people. Since rude remarksto think of random acts of kindness I can pass along
and things such as this are expected, when someoneto others. The other day, I was with my friends at
does a small random act of kindness for you, it canStarbucks and I mentioned that the cupcakes looked
mean a lot. I try to do little things each day thatgood and they agreed, but we didn't buy any. We
could help someone have a better day. I think that ifjust bought our drinks. Then when we were waiting
everyone could try to do at least one small randomfor our drinks, the cashier asked us if we would like a
act of kindness each day it would make theircupcake and told us they were free. We said sure,
surroundings happier, which will make them happierbut were kind of confused about it. Then the cashier
and kinder people. There are many random acts oftold us that they actually weren't free, the man in
kindness that can be done. One thing you could do isfront of us heard us say something about them and
buy food for the people behind you if you are in abought them for us. We told him thank you and that
drive-through. However, random acts of kindnesswas the best cupcake I have ever eaten because it
don't mean just giving people material things orwas a random act of kindness that was given to me.
money. I think a great thing to do is to leave penniesNow, I continue to notice more and more random
heads up in random places and maybe someone willacts of kindness given and received and I'd
find one and have a lucky day. Another thing I do toencourage others to do the same. I hope you will
just be kind is say "Hi" to people in the hall I don'ttoo. These small acts can make someone's day.