There has been numerous studies that show there is great benefit to one’s over-all health both mentally and physically when doing random acts of kindness. Why not try a few of the following random acts of kindness or think of your own creative ways to bring a smile to someones face.

When you are at a fast food drive through, pay for the persons order waiting behind you.

Let someone go ahead of you in a busy check-out line.

Let someone out in busy traffic.

Stop into a nursing home to play piano or to read to a resident. You can also simply stop in to hold and massage someones hand who appears to be lonely. Many yearn to have someone to talk to so you could be a good listener.

Arrange to offer art instruction to a near by elementary school once a month or every few months.

Help a child in the neighborhood with his or her homework.

Ask your child to wash the neighbors car and then pay them when they come home.

Offer to pump someones gasoline.

Randomly pick out a couple names from the white pages and drop off a vase with a rose or flower it in on their doorstep anonymously.

Offer to do childcare for a couple who could really use the time together.

Offer to pick up a friends or neighbors children from school or daycare.

Make a couple extra servings when preparing dinner and take it to a neighbor.

Return a neighbors trash cans to their gate after trash pick-up day.

Mow a neighbors lawn who looks like they could use the extra help.

Purchase a homeless person a meal.

Take a homeless person a warm blanket, a pocket radio or something else someone in this situation could use.

Adopt a pet from the pound that is on the list to be destroyed.

Take an extra bag or two of pet food to an animal shelter.

Volunteer a day at the animal shelter.

Drop off extra books and magazines to a nursing home, hospital or doctors office.

Teach a neighborhood kid how to cook.

Offer to clean someones home that you know needs it.

Pick up someones laundry and take it home and deliver it back clean and folded.

Smile at everyone you see that day.

Hold the door open for everyone that day when you are out and about.

Load someones groceries into their car.

Leave some spare change in the vending machine or pay phone.

Put some extra change into a parking meter near you

When you see someone out with a loved one or friend they are caring for, stop and let them know what a nice daughter, son, etc. they are.

Drop off home made baked goods to a fire department or police department.

Leave the mailman a note letting him or her know how much you appreciate all they do.

Perhaps these ideas have inspired you to get creative and come up with some great acts of kindness.