When I lived in Evergreen, Colorado a friend who had recently moved to Boulder came to visit.  She showed me, on her car, Boulder’s “unofficial official” bumper sticker: “Practice Random Acts of Kindness and Senseless Acts of Beauty“.  She said everyone in Boulder had one.

The next time we met, I drove “down the hill” to Boulder. Of course, I checked out the other cars in town while I was there. Sure enough, nearly every car that had a bumper sticker said “Practice Random Acts of Kindness and Senseless Acts of Beauty“.  Excellent. 🙂

Random Acts of Kindness Week is the second full week of February each year, corresponding, appropriately, with Valentine’s Day.  The Foundation’s website offers great Random Acts of Kindness Ideas.  (click this link for a few, or bookmark it if you like heartwarming stories all year long.)

Since arriving in Sacramento, I started keeping foil packs of tuna fish, chicken, Vienna Sausages, granola bars, bags of prepackaged trail mix, etc. in whatever vehicle I’m using.  There are a lot of hungry people in this town.

I don’t know if it’s a constant for this area, or a sign of recent times. I don’t give cash to people with those signs by the side of the road or at the entrance to the Post Office. I wouldn’t want to support an unhealthy habit or make them, or me, a robbery victim. I give them food.  I’ve been handing out a lot more lately.  And smiles. Always smiles.

Well, you know it had to happen.  One day I saw this: “Practice Random Sarcasm and Senseless Acts of Irony“.  Ok, it was pretty funny. Probably done by a writer.

But you know what?  Seeing that bumper sticker in traffic made me laugh.  How ironic.  For me, it was a random act of kindness.   🙂