SPREADING KINDNESS: Hooray for kindness!

In 1982, American journalist and writer Anne Herbert coined a phrase that would come to define a movement: “Practice random kindness and senseless acts of beauty.” Herbert died in 2015, but her legacy of kindness lives on through Random Acts of Kindness Day, established in 1995 by the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation to promote intentional kindness.

Did you know Salisbury is the first of just two U.S. cities designated a World Kindness City USA? After three years of intense work by kindSBY founder Grace Foxwell Murdock, Kindness Commissioners and local government, Salisbury’s designation became official in 2019.

We are currently midway through enjoying Random Acts of Kindness Week, celebrated this year Feb. 14-20, 2026.

You, too, can join the festivities. Visit the Wicomico County Library at 122 S. Division Street and stop to enjoy our Tree of Kindness. The tree is located to the right of the front desk; look for the poster bearing the Tree of Kindness. You’ll see heart-shaped leaves containing words of hope. Read them and be uplifted. If you are inspired, leave your own note of hope for others to enjoy.

The tree will remain open to visitors through the end of the week.

Already, as part of the week’s festivities, youngsters at local childcare centers have created art designed to spread kindness; students at James M. Bennett were greeted with cheers, stickers, and smiles as they arrived Tuesday morning; and local emergency shelters have received donated items for their residents. More activities are planned.

Here are some ideas for you to individually (or with friends or family) celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Week. If you see one that appeals to you, give it a try. Perhaps one of the suggestions will inspire you to do something different, and that’s awesome too!

·       Scroll through social media until you see someone’s creative effort: a drawing, a recipe, a photo (you get the idea). Leave a genuine, specific compliment.

·       Ask someone “What’s good in your world today?” Then listen, without rushing in to fix or compare anything.

·       Do at least three acts of kindness this week: one for a friend, one for a family member, and one for a stranger.

·       We always trade big news, but today, instead share a tiny victory. Invite others to celebrate their small joys, too.

·       Let someone merge into traffic in front of you, go ahead of you in a checkout line, or encourage someone to take their time if you see they are frustrated.

·       Make a playlist of songs that make you feel loved and send it to a friend.

And don’t forget, you can continue to spread kindness every day; don’t wait for next year’s Random Acts of Kindness. When you share kindness, you feel better along with the beneficiary of your actions.

While you are busy spreading kindness to those around you, don’t forget yourself!

Here are a few self-kindness ideas:

·       Take a deep breath and enjoy a moment of stillness.

·       Unplug for an hour to do something you love.

·       Write down three things you are proud of or grateful for.

·       Rest, reset, and remind yourself it’s OK to pause.

Suggestions courtesy of the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation.