26 Days of Kindness honor Sandy Hook victims

How can a simple act of kindness change anything at all? Would anyone benefit? Would anyone care?

Can a cup of coffee or kind word really make a difference?

If your Facebook and twitter feed is full of ick like mine has been recently, and the news, tv and radio is spewing more bile than you can handle, I have an antidote guaranteed to bring a smile to your face and those around you.

It’s simple, easy-to-do, costs nothing, and can change lives.

Just. Like. That.

The 26 Days of Kindness is a social media campaign of compassion started by former Sandy Hook student Ashley Peterson, who encourages people to practice a charitable act each day, for the 26 days leading up to December 14th.

Each day honors a different victim of the Sandy Hook shooting, and asks participants to think of them, and share a random act of kindness in their memory. If willing, come back and post their act of kindness the page. Or not. Doesn’t really matter, but it does make you feel good to read all the feel goods.

Here are samples pulled from the official Facebook 3rd Annual 26 Days of Kindness event page:

• gave random movie tickets to a family
• welcomed home a man in a Vietnam hat and thanked him for his service
• bought lunch for someone who forgot their wallet
• donated taco makings to food pantry
• gave bagged lunch and hot soup to homeless man
• bought coffee for man behind me
• dropped off dog food to the pound
• reached out to an old friend
• thanked my kids teacher with surprise coffee
• delivered soup to a friend who recently lost her mom

The list is goes on and on – and today is only day two. 26 Days of Kindness will warm your heart and feed your soul. Day 2 honors Noah Pozner, who wanted to work in a taco factory. Or be a doctor. Or a soldier. Who should have been 9 years old today.

And if you think being kind not enough, think again. The families who lost so much that horrific day, are honored and overwhelmed at the outpouring of love and support.

Beautiful Jessica Rekos, who loved orcas and horses, was the remembered for the first day of kindness, and her mother posted this about the campaign:

Practice 26 days of kindness. Start today. Start tomorrow. Just start.