Apparently next week is Random Acts of Kindness Week. In work, we’re being encouraged to step out of our normal routine or comfort zone, and be extra nice to people and then go online to share our experiences. Call me a cynic, but isn’t this something we should do every day anyway? I’m always nice to people, always smile at people, and I do my best to be polite. As for sharing, isn’t this a little like doing something nice and then ‘bragging’ about it? How about just doing something nice in our own quiet way, and just be happy with that? One message has stated that they’re going to go up to a random student, tell them they love them, and offer to share some of their lunch. Now, if someone randomly came up to me, told me they loved me, and wanted to sit with me well quite frankly I’d probably mutter no thanks and move well away. How intimidating would that be? Don’t get me wrong it’s nice to be told that someone loves you, but from a total stranger? I’ll pass thank you.

It’s a little like the ‘huggers’ who were on the news some time ago. These were random people, who just went up to a stranger and hugged them. I’ll pass on that too. Some even became known as hugger muggers as they used the hug to pick the pocket of their ‘hug victim.’ Nice world we live in… I’m very fussy about who I let enter my personal space, and not without good reason it seems.

So, whilst I’ll continue to be nice, to everyone, I have no intention of blogging or bragging about how nice I am and what good deeds I did that week. Maybe I am just an ‘old’ cynic…

It’s a different matter of course if the act of kindness goes viral such as the case where a young woman decided to help an elderly victim of mugging. Now that turned out to be truly awesome, and she even seemed a little embarrassed about all the attention. There’s a similar situation in America where a load of money has been raised for a man who walks 20 odd miles to work. These good news stories are great and they do serve to reinforce that many people are genuinely nice, and will help their fellow human beings where they can. Long may it continue.

So, next week, be extra nice if you can, and then why stop after that week? We all need to be nicer to each other whenever and wherever we can be, just don’t hug a random stranger; you could get sued ;)