by Karen Moore

Created on: March 10, 2009   Last Updated: March 16, 2009

Random acts of kindness feed the soul of both the giver and the receiver. You don't have to know the person, have lots of money or be someone famous to make a difference in someone's life. Unexpectedly sharing a part of you through kindness gives a boost to the heart and the mind. These acts of kindness don't require going out of your way just the act whenever opportunity presents itself.

Eleven Tips for inexpensive acts of kindness in gloomy times:

1. Give your gloves and winter hat to a child walking to school without any. If you are like me you have extras someone can use.

2. In the line at the convenience store, pay for the coffee of the person behind you without telling them.

3. Smile and say hello to someone as you hold open the door for them.

4. Stop and offer to call for help, or lend a hand to someone broke down alongside the road.

5. Help someone carry packages into the post office.

6. Offer to take someone's shopping cart into the store that is leaving as you are entering.

7. Thank someone in a military uniform for serving their country and you.

8. Help someone catch their papers that are being blown around in the wind.

9. Make an extra sandwich for your lunch (or split your lunch in half) and give it to someone who needs it.

10. Call someone who lost a loved one to let them know you are thinking of them.

11. Stop and allow someone to turn into traffic in front of you.

There are countless things that we can all do to share acts of kindness. Just ask yourself what you have had happen to you that was unexpected and made you smile or what you can do to bring a smile to someone's life unexpectedly.

Staying positive and reaching out to others when times are tough for everyone helps keep stress levels down by realizing we are not alone. Seeing the good in little things brightens the outlook when thing can appear dark. That unexpected kindness may be what helps another through a darker time and those benefits can keep giving long after an act of kindness deed is done.

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